Consider blind students' plea, SC tells Delhi University

The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Delhi University to examine the grievances of blind students on the introduction of mathematics and science in the four-year undergraduate courses to be started from the current academic year.

The apex court bench of Justice B.S. Chauhan and Justice Dipak Misra said this as petitioner organisation Sambhavana's counsel Pankaj Sinha told the court that an affidavit filed by the university did not address the students' grievances.

While disposing of the petition, the court said that it would not interfere with the four-year degree course as it concerned a policy decision.

The apex court May 27 asked the university to file an affidavit stating the steps taken to address the grievances of blind students in the wake of the introduction of four-year undergraduate courses from this year.

Sinha told the court that the university hastily introduced science and mathematics, in the four-year undergraduate courses, which the blind students had not studied beyond Class 8.

Senior counsel Pinki Anand, appearing for Delhi University, said what was being introduced was a chapter on imparting scientific temperament.

Apparently not satisfied with the university's response, the court said it would pass appropriate order to allow the petitioner organisation to make a representation to university's empowered committee to examine its grievances.