DU promotes Unmukt Chand to next year

The University of Delhi has decided to promote Unmukt Chand, the captain of the Under-19 World Cup winning team, to the second year of his bachelor's degree course. The university vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh gave a go ahead in the case of the St Stephen's College student on Friday. The decision was taken after Chand's case made media headlines, followed by the union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal speaking with Singh. The sports minister Ajay Maken had also made a plea to the university to consider his case favourably. 

However, the vice-chancellor said that Chand would have to clear his papers from the previous year in which he has either not passed or failed to appear. Chand, a BA student at St Stephen's college, was not allowed to take his second semester examination by the college authorities due to low attendance.

'The university has recognised his outstanding achievements [in sports]. He has distinguished himself and brought laurels to the nation through his exploits in the field of cricket by not only representing his country but also by playing crucial role in helping India to win the World Cup a few days back,' said Singh.

'Participation in sports activities will be accorded credit and the students will have the choice of replacing some of the academic courses with a structured recognition of participation towards his/her degree,' Singh said.

According to the university rules, a student must have at least 33.3 per cent attendance in an academic session after all exemptions. Earlier, Chand had approached the Delhi high court to allow him to sit for examination. But he could appear in only two papers out of four as he approached the court late.

According to university rules, a student should pass 50 per cent of all papers in both semesters combined to move to the next year of the course. The next hearing in Chand's case has been scheduled on 16 September. Currently his results has been withheld on the court's direction.