Probe: Vet varsity not following state reservation policy

CHANDIGARH: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, was not following the state policy on reservation for the wards of ex-servicemen, but was within its rights as an autonomous body to follow the decision of its Academic Council on the number of seats for admissions under this category.

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 20

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, was not following the state policy on reservation for the wards of ex-servicemen, but was within its rights as an autonomous body to follow the decision of its Academic Council on the number of seats for admissions under this category.

This was stated by the Director, Sainik Welfare Department, in an inquiry report into a controversy over the denial of admission to a martyr’s son in Bachelor of Veterinary Science course last month.

The report has been submitted to Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary, Defence Welfare. It recommended that in future the educational institutes should have an exclusive quota for the wards of ex-servicemen instead of clubbing it with those of paramilitary and police personnel.

The inquiry was ordered after a The Tribune report on July 27 highlighted the plight of Sarbjit Kaur, whose husband Naik Satnam Singh of the Corps 2 Sikh Grenadier Regiment died in action in Kashmir in 2005 and her son Karnvir Singh was denied admission.

As per the state policy, a martyr’s ward gets preference over other applicants. However, the university said the one seat under the quota went to a candidate who was on top of the merit list under the defence quota.

Gurkirat Kirpal Singh said he had sought comments on the report from the Higher Education Department on the status of implementation of state’s reservation policy in all educational institutes.

Sarbjit Kaur said the university could extend the number of seats under the defence quota to accommodate her son as he was eligible for admission as per the state policy.

“We never intended the admission of the selected candidate be cancelled. We have requested the university to add one seat for my son also, who had the right under the quota,” she said.

Row over NRI quota too

A controversy has erupted over NRI quota seats in the university. Based on RTI information, Ankit Joshi, an advocate, has alleged the Academic Council had increased the NRI seats to more than 15 per cent of the total seats, which was illegal. He said it was strange the council had violated the directions of the Centre, which stated NRI seats could not be more than 15 per cent of the total. He said similarly, the council could not alter defence quota rules. Dr Sushil Prabhakar, Registrar, GADVASU, claimed that the council had the powers to make such changes.