DU guidelines for admission in sports quota challenged in HC

After hearing arguments from the counsel for 17-year-old chess player Chetna Karnani, who was denied the admission for failing the physical fitness test, those of DU counsel, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw today reserved its order on the plea for quashing the guidelines.

Terming University's decision to deny her admission on sports quota as "arbitrary," Karnani, in her petition, had argued that she has been playing chess for past seven years, and yet, was denied admission under sports quota in BA (English Hons) course in the current academic session.

"The criteria to qualify fitness test should not be made applicable to indoor game. If it is not removed as a pre-condition, the same would defeat the very purpose of including the game of chess," she said.

Her counsel argued that his client has been playing chess for past seven years, but as per the university's new guidelines, a candidate has to undergo the physical fitness test containing in three items - standing broad jump of 1.65 meters for boys and 1.15 meters for girls, 100 meters race or walk in five minutes for boys and six minutes for girls and in addition 50 meters dash in 8 seconds for boys and 6 seconds for girls.

According to the lawyer, the new guidelines were introduced this year only and as per the new standards, a student seeking admission against sports quota has to qualify at least in two out of the three items.

"She (Karnani) may not be able to qualify the fitness test as she is a little obese and therefore, she may not be able to meet the prescribed standards," the counsel also argued. (More)