Delhi University – High Court Seeks Reply on Refugee Admission Passport Rule
Delhi University – The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the University of Delhi to respond to a petition challenging its requirement that foreign applicants must submit a valid non-Indian passport to secure admission to undergraduate programmes. The case has been brought by a Myanmar refugee recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Court Questions Passport Requirement for Refugees
Justice Jasmeet Singh raised concerns over the university’s position during the hearing and asked how a refugee could reasonably be expected to produce a passport from the country they had fled. The court allowed Delhi University time to seek instructions on the matter and scheduled the next hearing for July 13, 2026.
Petition Filed by UNHCR-Recognised Myanmar Refugee
The petition was filed by Henry Htoo Aung Lin through advocates Ashok Aggarwal and Kumar Utkarsh. Lin is a Myanmar national who has been recognised as a refugee by the UNHCR and is currently living in India with his family.
He has challenged a condition in Delhi University’s Foreign Students’ Registry Admission Bulletin, which requires foreign students to hold a valid passport issued by a country other than India. The petitioner has argued that this rule creates an unfair barrier for refugees who cannot safely obtain travel documents from their home countries.
Application Submitted for 2026-27 Academic Session
According to the petition, Lin and his family left Myanmar in 2022 amid political unrest, violence and concerns about persecution. They later received protection under the UNHCR framework in India.
After completing his schooling in India, Lin applied for admission to Delhi University under the Foreign Students’ Category for the 2026-27 academic session. His application was submitted through the Foreign Students’ Registry on May 28, 2026.
The university later informed him that the application could not be processed because a passport had not been provided. Lin reportedly requested that his UNHCR refugee documents be accepted instead, but the university did not grant the request.
Plea Seeks Alternative Documentation for Admission
The petition seeks either removal or a limited interpretation of the passport condition. It has also asked the court to direct Delhi University to consider Lin’s admission application without requiring a passport.
The plea states that refugees cannot be treated in the same manner as ordinary foreign nationals because their circumstances are different. It argues that requiring a refugee to approach the authorities of the country from which they escaped may place them at risk.
Constitutional Concerns Raised in Petition
The petitioner has claimed that the requirement violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which deal with equality before law and the right to life and personal liberty. The plea states that access to higher education is connected to the right to live with dignity.
It also points out that the Foreign Students’ Registry Admission Bulletin already lists a UNHCR Refugee Certificate among the accepted documents. According to the petition, insisting on both a refugee certificate and a national passport is inconsistent and unreasonable.
Comparison Drawn With Tibetan Student Documentation
The petition further refers to Delhi University’s provisions for Tibetan nationals, who may submit alternative documents such as a Registration Certificate when passports are unavailable. It argues that recognised Myanmar refugees should receive similar consideration.
Lin’s identity and academic qualifications, the plea says, are supported by UNHCR documents and certificates issued by Indian education boards. He completed Class X through the Mizoram Board of School Education and Class XII in the Science stream through the Meghalaya Board of School Education.
The petition also mentions minor differences in the spelling of his name and date of birth in some UNHCR records. It describes these as clerical issues arising during humanitarian registration in difficult circumstances and says they should not outweigh his educational documentation.
The Delhi High Court will take up the matter again on July 13, 2026.