Chess player moves HC against DU's sports quota

A woman chess player of the Capital has moved the HC against the Delhi University's admission norms on sports quota, which allegedly stipulates a general physical fitness test even for indoor games players.

A woman chess player of the Capital has moved the High Court against the Delhi University's admission norms on sports quota, which allegedly stipulates a general physical fitness test even for indoor games players.

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After hearing arguments from the counsel for 17-year-old chess player Chetna Karnani, who was denied admission for failing the physical fitness test, those of DU counsel, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw on Monday 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 the 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 games. If it is not removed as a pre-condition, the same would defeat the very purpose of including the game of chess," she said.

According to the lawyer, a student seeking admission against sports quota has to qualify in at least two out of the three items.