SC/ST panel slams ‘separate forms’ rule

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has come down heavily on Delhi University over its policy of having separate admission forms for general and SC/ST candidates.

“While the form meant for general candidates has endless options, that meant for SC/ST candidates limits the candidate’s choice to just 30 courses. In all other places forms are common, with the additional requirement of community certificate for reserved candidates. But, ironically, Delhi University supplies separate forms,” Commission Chairman Buta Singh said.

When contacted, top Delhi University officials declined to comment. However, sources said that separate forms help in making colleges compulsorily fill SC/ST quotas, as they enable the university to centrally allot colleges to SC/ST candidates. This prevents colleges from acting in a biased manner, they added.

DUTA Joint Secretary Sanjay Kumar said, “The university limits the options available to reserved candidates, which is discriminatory. Moreover, a recent trend is that SC/ST candidates who dropped out of a course previously because of various reasons are denied quota benefit if they re-apply next year.” Sources in the university claim that this is done to offer fresh candidates a chance, given the “high drop-out rate”.

The SC Commission has acted in response to a complaint filed by Ambedkar Students Organisation of India. The complaint also alleges while general candidates are given as many forms as they wish, SC/ST candidates are given only one form. The candidate, it says, faces problems if an error is committed. The complaint also accuses the University of secrecy in the admission procedure relating to SC/STs.