A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra said that the admissions to MPhil and PhD courses for the academic year 2017-18 would be subject to the final outcome of the petition.
"The interim order to continue. Admissions to the courses will be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition," the bench said and asked the parties to file written submissions on the matter.
The July 2016 regulations of the UGC had put a cap on the number of students per professor/supervisor in MPhil and PhD courses in all varsities across India.
A single judge of the high court had held that the JNU's admission policy was bound by the UGC regulations and the varsity had to accept them without any deviation.
Also Read
However, a two-judge bench, on an appeal filed by the students, has stayed "the effect and operation of the findings on law" of the single judge.
"In view thereof, it is directed that till the next date of hearing, there shall be a stay on the effect and operation of the findings on law of the single judge," the bench had said.
The students, in their appeal, have contended that the single judge had "erroneously granted complete supremacy to the applicability of the UGC Act".
The petitioners have argued that the UGC notification threatens to put their future in jeopardy as they would not be able to find a supervisor due to the clauses prescribed in the UGC notification, especially the one that puts a cap on the number of research scholars that each faculty member can accept.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content