Ahmedabad: St Xavier’s College has moved the Gujarat High Court challenging the state government’s directive requiring it to admit students to its undergraduate programmes through the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) portal.

The autonomous college, affiliated with Gujarat University, has contested the Higher Education Department’s order mandating its participation in the centralized admission system. Hearing the matter, Justice Nirzar Desai issued notices to the concerned authorities and sought their replies by June 8. The case has been scheduled for further hearing on the first working day after the court’s summer vacation.

GCAS is the centralized admission platform used by all state universities and several private universities in Gujarat. Under existing rules, affiliated colleges of public universities are required to admit students through the portal.

While some autonomous colleges had initially sought to conduct admissions independently, most eventually joined GCAS following directions from the Higher Education Department. St Xavier’s participated in the system last year but has opted out this year, citing its autonomous status and rights as a minority educational institution.

The college has argued that it is entitled to manage its own admission process without government intervention. However, despite its objections, St Xavier’s was included as an option during the GCAS choice-filling process.

Ahead of the seat allotment process, the college approached the High Court seeking clarity on whether it can remain outside the centralized admission framework. DeshGujarat