The Hindu: Puducherry: Sunday,
August 21, 2016.
The
University Grants Commission (UGC) on has directed the Pondicherry Central
University to strictly implement the Central Educational Institutions
(Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, in PhD admissions.
In an e-mail
reply (dated August 18, 2016) to an RTI enquiry, UGC Joint Secretary Dev Swarup
has written: “The University Grants Commission has been issuing official
communications with regard to strict implementation of reservation policy in
appointments and admissions, from time to time. Also, whenever a written
communication received from the University authorities seeking clarification on
these matters, the UGC reminds them about the official position on the subject
and to follow the reservation policy strictly. Further, there is no convention
or relevance of anything called ‘oral instructions’ nor was any occasion or
reason for the same, here in this matter. The University authorities have to
address such issues at its level, keeping in view the Government policy on the
subject.”
The UGC had
copied the mail to the Vice-Chancellor, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry and
UGC vice-chairman H. Devaraj.
Recently, the
University students had protested against the administration for not
implementing the Act over the last 10 years. Responding to their demands, the
administration had stated that there was confusion over the implementation of
the Act and, on this ground, stalled the PhD admission process for over a
month. They promised to carry it out after seeking legal consultation.
However, the
University Registrar (in-charge) recently issued instructions to proceed with
admissions citing oral instructions from Dr. Dev Swarup. However, no such oral
instructions were given to the Registrar as mentioned in the RTI reply.
The
protesting staff and students from the University alleged that by going ahead
with the admission process, the administration was violating the Act and UGC
directions.
The data
accessed from the University administration through RTI for the last 10 years
indicate that Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes students were systematically
excluded from getting admissions in those departments where the vacancies are
less than 4, especially for PhD Programme.
They stated
that despite their repeated demand, the Registrar (in-charge) of Pondicherry
Central University was reluctant to implement the Act. Protests against
Pondicherry Central University administration for violation of Central
Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admisssion) Act, 2006, in PhD
admissions are continuing with People’s Welfare Front (PWF) on Friday demanding
implementation of the Act.
CPI (M)
Puducherry Secretary R. Rajangam said they had sought an appointment to meet
the University Registrar and Vice-Chancellor to stress on the implementation of
the Act.
Pondicherry
Central University Assistant Registrar (Public Relations) M.Vallathan said that
the University Registrar (in-charge) M.Ramachandran had informed him that they
had not received any communication related to the reservation policy in PhD
admission from the UGC.
.JPG)
.JPG)
