The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) to respond to a plea regarding admissions of Other Backward Classes (non-creamy layer) students in its residential coaching academy meant for Civil Services aspirants.

A Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued notice to JMI and the University Grants Commission (UGC) on the petition by Satyam Singh, a graduate in law.

Referring to the UGC guidelines, Mr Singh’s plea said JMI could not restrict free coaching only to female students and those from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as it was obligated to extend the benefit to both OBC (non-creamy layer) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

When the court pointed out there was no provision in the UGC guidelines for the EWS category, the petitioner restricted his relief only to OBC (non-creamy layer).

The court, however, asked the petitioner to inform if a university established by a statute was bound to follow the UGC mandate.

“You are virtually asking us to reframe a policy. Admission is not to regular courses but coaching centre. It is for authorities to provide for reservation. You are asking us to create a right,” the court said.

The petitioner said UGC gave financial support to four Central universities, including JMI, and therefore it was obligated to not discriminate among the underprivileged students.

The petition said the current admission policy for the residential coaching academy was arbitrary and discriminatory, as it left out a category of students who deserved admissions.

The court will hear the case again on February 12.