The Delhi High Court has halted post-graduate admissions at Jawahar Lal Nehru University based on deprivation points, observing that by virtue of using such points the varsity had "altered" marks obtained by a student in Common University Entrance Test (CUET) examination thereby affecting the sanctity of an entrance exam which cannot be permitted.

The petitioner sought admission to PG courses at JNU. Section V of the JNU e-Prospectus implements a mechanism of awarding upto 12 'Deprivation Points', wherein one Deprivation Point is equal to 3 marks, to candidates purely based on geographical location of their prior schooling. The petitioner challenged the same.

JNU contended that awarding of deprivation points is based on the policy of JNU to ensure adequate number of students.

Justice Jasmeet Singh in his order said:

"Prima-facie, I am unable to agree with the contentions of the leaned counsel for the respondent No.1/JNU. By virtue of deprivation points, the respondent university have altered the marks obtained by a student and reserved the right to grant upto 12 marks for admission. The same to my mind, appears to alter the result by permitting the respondent university to add marks to the marks obtained by a candidate in the CUET examination.

To my mind, the reliance placed by leaned counsel for the respondent No.1/JNU on any of the provisions do not permit respondent No. 1 university to add marks to the score obtained by any candidate. If this is permitted, the sanctity of an entrance exam will no longer remain and a university through ordinances will be able to alter the score obtained by a candidate in a competitive exam. That is antithesis to the whole concept of a competitive exam. For the said reasons, I am of the view that the interim orders need to be passed."

Issuing an interim stay on admissions, the court directed that till the next date of hearing, the admissions based on deprivation points shall not be finalized and no further steps will be taken on the basis of deprivation points qua the admission in respondent university.

The petitioner contended that even though they have not filed any application seeking interim relief, but he orally requested that in case interim orders are not passed, admissions will be crystallized on the basis of deprivation points, which cannot be reversed.

Agreeing with this the court said that in case the Court tomorrow comes to a finding that the respondent university could not have granted deprivation points to candidates and admissions are already done, the same will result in an irreversible situation.

The matter is listed on August 24.

On Monday, the counsel for JNU sought urgent listing of the varsity's appeal against the single judge's order and had mentioned the same before a division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia. The court had permitted listing asking the counsel to cure the office objections.

Case title: AMIT MEHRA v/s JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY THROUGH ITS REGISTRAR & ANR

W.P.(C) 11742/2026

Appearance:

Advocates Mr Amit Kumar, Mr Vaibhav Mahal, Ms Nishi Sharma, Ms Sakshi, Ms Nishu Kumari, Advs for petitioner

Mr. Karan Prakash, Mr. Om Bali, Ms. Deepshikha Kumar, Advs. for JNU

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