SOL cut-off row continues

The controversies surrounding admissions at the Delhi University seem to be hogging more limelight than the cut-off marks.

The controversies surrounding admissions at the Delhi University seem to be hogging more limelight than the cut-off marks.

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The latest in the series is the admission criteria of the School of Open Learning (SOL). This year, for the first time, the SOL fixed a minimum cut-off of 40 per cent for admission to its two courses — BA (Programme) and BCom (Programme). Earlier, students were supposed to have a pass certificate to enroll in these courses.

Also, the external cell of SOL, from which a lot of students appeared for the examinations privately, has been merged with the institute from this year.

This has effectively set a cut-off of 40 per cent for these students as well making it difficult for them to enroll for these courses.

“The ones who have scored between 33 per cent and 39 per cent will find it difficult to get admission. Don’t they have a right to study?” asked J. Khuntia general secretary of Academics For Action and Development.

Citing the DU Act of 1922 clause 4(2) (e), which states that ‘the university shall have the following powers: … to hold examinations and to confer degrees and other academic distinctions on persons who have been registered by the university, subject to such conditions as may be laid down in the statutes and ordinances as external candidates being persons residing within the territorial limits to which powers of the university extend,’ Khuntia said Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental has violated the ordinance by fixing the eligibility criteria at 40 per cent thereby denying the candidates the chance to enroll themselves in the university.

“It is an Act of Parliament and the VC cannot amend it according to his wish,” he said.

Aditya Narayan Mishra, president of Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) on Sunday met Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to convey his concerns. Dikshit will write to the VC about the same, he said.

“At a time when we are talking about expanding our base in higher education by bringing in acts such as the Right to Education Act, how can we deny the students admissions?”

Earlier, commenting on the introduction of the eligibility criteria, the executive director of SOL, HC Pokhriyal had said, “Delhi University is one of the most sought-after varsities in the country and it has to maintain its standard. The university has taken this decision to ensure that there is improvement in the teaching-learning process.”