HRD tells DU to implement OBC reservation

Updated on: Friday, June 24, 2011

Faced with violation of OBC reservation by Delhi University, the HRD ministry on Thursday asked officiating vice-chancellor Vivek Suneja to implement it in letter and spirit.

The ministry's action comes in the wake of representation by the OBC students' association that for the past few years DU has been consistently flouting the norms during the admissions. HRD has asked Suneja to bring the violation to the notice of officials responsible for implementing reservation. It has also asked the university to send a timely report to the ministry.

The ministry pointed out that provisions of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 have been interpreted favourably from time to time by courts.

The University Grants Commission has also sent a reminder to DU for proper implementation of reservation.

DU sources ascribe non-implementation of OBC reservation to two factors. A senior official said many colleges have not been able to expand infrastructure. This has happened mainly due to multiplicity of agencies in Delhi from whom clearance is needed. "There is the Delhi Urban Arts Council, NDMC, MCD and DDA. Getting clearance is not easy. The expansion proposals of many colleges are still pending," the official said.

The second reason, the sources said, was faulty implementation of 10% differential in marks between general and OBC students. The Supreme Court had said there should 10% difference in marks of OBCs from the lowest marks obtained by the general candidate. "It has been found that in many cases colleges are not willing to undertake the exercise diligently while in some specific courses OBC students do not show interest," the official said.

Times of India

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