Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has issued notice to Delhi University on a petition questioning the validity of the admission criteria for Masters in Music (Hindustani) course which is solely based on the performance in an entrance test.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw Friday issued notice to Delhi University, Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Ramjas College and student Avinash Kumar Jha on the petition filed by Babita Rawat.

The court asked all the respondents to file their reply by Jan 27.

Rawat stated that she had been denied admission in the M.A. Music for the academic year 2011-12 despite the fact that she secured 63 percent marks in aggregate in B.A. Music while studying in Ramjas College.

She stated that Avinash Kumar Jha who was not eligible to be even registered for the course had not only been selected but also granted admission in M.A. Music in Ramjas College.

The petitioner submitted that she and other candidates were subjected to an entrance test (practical) in July by a four-member selection committee constituted by the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Delhi University’s Department of Music.

The faculty exhibited the first, second and final lists of selected candidates. But the name of the petitioner was not included in any list.

“The merit list is drawn solely on the basis of the performance in the entrance test (practical). No written test is taken. No record of the entrance test (practical) is maintained by the selection committee,” petitioner’s counsel Ashok Agarwal said.

“The decisions to select candidates are solely at the whims and fancies of the committee members. Such a criteria is open to discrimination, favouritism, arbitrariness and therefore, impermissible in law,” he added.