Student community slams violation of reservation policy by Pondicherry Varsity

Puducherry: Pondicherry Central University students alleged violation of reservation policies in postgraduate and integrated course admissions by the university for the academic year 2020-21. Claiming it "Brahmanical dismantling of reservation policies", student organizations including Ambedkar Students Association pointed out that several departments violated provisions of the constitution, law and UGC regulations.

Students claim that some departments including integrated programs directly violate constitutional provisions and rules framed by the Ministry of Education and assurances made in the Parliament. These departments have implemented more than the maximum permitted 10 per cent of reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in admissions.

In an official press statement by the student community, students allege that around 33 departments/ programs have implemented EWS reservations without implementing the mandatory SC, ST and OBC reservations. Students note that this violates various laws and rules, including the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 amended in 2012. The University administration has not yet responded to the allegations

The rule to be mandatorily followed by Central Universities under UGC in matters of SC, ST, OBC reservations says, "The educational institutions receiving grant-in-aid from central government have to follow the prescribed percentage of reservation i.e. 15% for SCs, 7½% for STs and 27% in OBCs in the matter of teaching and non-teaching posts and in admissions to various courses except Minority educational institutions under Article 30 (1) of the constitution."

"I am from Odisha, and most of the students from our community are studying in Odia language till 12th. They work hard to clear the entrance examination and get an entry in a university, but what will happen to them when this kind of discrimination takes place? Can we get access to proper higher education? No. Why they don't want us to get into higher education? Because they fear that if we are educated enough, we will raise our voice against the malpractices," Amit(not real name) who is a student at the University told Madhyamam.

"Many students don't know about reservation dilution and if somebody knows, they will keep silent but if we are silent, then our next generation will not have the right to study as before. Every student should raise a voice against this Brahminical discrimination,"he added

Other concerns raised by students include the lack of admission to physically handicapped students in some departments and not filling the 3 per cent mandated quota for the disabled. No admissions are given for students belonging to tribal communities in around 8 departments. Students allege that a few departments have not filled the mandatory OBC reservation (27%) properly. A few departments are not ensuring 7.5% mandatory reservation for Scheduled Tribes. In some departments, there is no implementation of 25 per cent reservation guaranteed to Puducherry native students by the University.