House passes resolution; seeks permit for another university

Syed Ali Ahmed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 29

The Legislative Assembly today passed a resolution for reservation in admission for city students to 28 colleges of Delhi University funded by the government. The House also sought amendment to the Delhi University Act for allowing the government to open another university in the Capital that could have authority to affiliate colleges.

Education Minister Manish Sisodia said 85 per cent seats in 28 colleges that are funded by the government should be reserved for Delhi school students.

Concluding the discussion on the issue of reservation for city students, Sisodia pointed out that Sub-section 2 of Section 5 in the Delhi University Act said except Delhi University no other institution was authorised to affiliate any college or institute in the city. This section of the DU Act prevents the government from opening a new university.

He also moved a motion seeking amendment to the DU Act giving permission to the government for opening a new university that can affiliate colleges.

Sisodia in the House said he had met the Union Minister of Human Resources Development and authorities concerned in Delhi but so far nothing took place.

He hoped that the Academic Council of Delhi University could take some action after the resolution was passed in the assembly.

He said 2.60 lakh students pass out Class XII every year from the city schools and hardly one lakh could get admission as seats are filled by the students of other states.

The minister said so far the AAP government had opened 13 new colleges. But these are not enough. The city needs more colleges.

The House also decided that in the leadership of Jagdish Pradhan, a delegation of Delhi legislators would meet HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar with resolutions asking for reservation for city students and amendment to the DU Act to open a new university.

This issue was first raised by BJP MLA Jagdish Pradhan. Later, a discussion was initiated by the AAP MLA, Jarnail Singh.

Participating in the discussion, another BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa suggested when universities in other states have seats reserved for students of their states, Delhi University could also give preference to local students. He said colleges run by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee have seats reserved for Sikh students.

House session extended till July 3 

The ongoing session of the Delhi Assembly has been extended till July 3 to discuss some of the pending issues, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel said today. The session was earlier scheduled to end today. (With PTI inputs)