Delhi High Court halts JNU deprivation points

The India — Delhi High Court has directed Jawaharlal Nehru (JNU) to halt admissions based on its 'deprivation points' system for the 2026-27 academic session. The court, hearing a petition by aspiring postgraduate student Sumit Mehra, observed that the mechanism, which allows up to 12 deprivation points equivalent to 36 marks, could undermine the sanctity of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). JNU defended the policy as a measure to ensure representation from across India, citing the JNU Act, 1966. The court issued an interim order restraining JNU from finalising admissions based on deprivation points until the next hearing on August 24. Later, a division bench modified the order, allowing admissions to proceed subject to the outcome of the challenge. The case raises questions about the legality of adding marks to entrance exam scores.