DU: Open-ended MIL quota promotes ‘backdoor entry’
Ananya Panda
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 24
Delhi University’s move to allow colleges to grant concession of up to 10 per cent “without any cap” to students opting for a Modern Indian Language (MIL) as one of the subjects of study in BA programme has come under sharp criticism from a section of teachers.
The change—introduced “inadvertently” by DU into the admission guidelines last year both for BA and BCom courses—encourages “backdoor entry” by officials or government-friendly people putting meritorious students, especially those belonging to the general category, at a big disadvantage, according to some teachers.
However, this year the varsity’s standing committee approved a proposal to drop the MIL quota for BCom programme as suggested by the Committee of Courses, Dr Ashutosh, OSD Admissions told The Tribune.
Before last academic year, the colleges under DU use to keep aside a limited number of seats for applicants going for any of the 22 languages, barring Hindi, specified under the eighth schedule of the Constitution during admissions to much sought-after BA and BCom courses.
“Earlier, the guidelines were well-thought-out, but it is imprudent on the part of the university to remove the cap. It gives colleges scope for manipulation clearly to favour nepotism and favouritism. Reservation cannot be without cap. What will happen to the general meritorious students? It denies equal opportunity to all,” said Dr CS Rawat, vice-president of Delhi University Teachers’ Association, demanding an advisory from the university administration on the criteria.
