HC seeks DU response on plea questioning Ph.D, M.Phil entrance

Delhi High Court has sought the response of Delhi University (DU) on a plea by a lawyer who has alleged that the varsity's admission process for M.Phil and Ph.D courses is "arbitrary".
Justice Manmohan issued the notice to DU and sought its reply by March 16, 2015, the next date of hearing in the matter.
The court was hearing the plea by advocate Jamshed Ansari, who has alleged that DU violated University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines to arbitrarily admit students into its Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) courses.
"As per the UGC Regulation, 2009, DU is bound to admit M.Phil/Ph.D students through an entrance test followed by an interview. After admission, these students are required to undertake course work for a minimum period of one semester," the petition has said.

It also states that the varsity disregarded the regulations to admit students on the basis of interviews only and did not undertake the minimum one semester course work.
The advocate also alleged in his plea that in not following regulations, DU had helped those candidates who were known to the varsity's staff.

DU also insisted on the preparation of a synopsis through pre-consultation with a faculty member before appearing for the interview, he has contended.
Ansari says in his plea that he had applied for the Ph.D programme under DU's Faculty of Law against the notification for the same issued on January 8. He said that he had appeared for the interview on February 18.

The petitioner has contended that he did not qualify for the programme due to the allegedly arbitrary admission procedure.