JNUSU alleges 'tampering' of reservation policy in administration, seeks Lok Sabha intervention

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union submitted its request to Lok Sabha's Committee on Petitions through CPI(M) MP Jitendra Choudhury.

New Delhi: Flagging alleged "tampering" of reservation policy in admissions by the JNU administration, the university students' union today petitioned Lok Sabha seeking its intervention to restore the benefits awarded to students belonging to backward castes.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) submitted its request to Lok Sabha's Committee on Petitions through CPI(M) MP Jitendra Choudhury. Confirming this to PTI, Choudhury said the petition was submitted today to the committee and that it would look into the issue. Choudhury is a member of the committee.

"Similarly, around 30 MPs of CPI(M), CPI, Congress, NCP and RJD among others will be writing to Union HRD Minister Prakash Javdekar seeking his intervention," the CPI(M) MP said. In the petition, the JNUSU said, "Clauses in the Admission Policy and Procedure 2018-19 (Annexure 1) has made written examination a qualifying paper and Viva is the sole criteria for selection."

"A committee constituted by the varsity in 2016 to study discrimination in the admission process recommended reduction of Viva marks from 30 to 15 to mitigate the discrimination pattern. This shows that the varsity has violated fundamental rights, Central Education Institutions (Reservation in Admissions) Act 2006 and SC/ST Atrocities Act 1989," the petition said, urging the committee to intervene and restore the policy.

"Earlier it was 70 marks for written test, 30 marks for viva. Combined marks of both would be considered for selection, besides properly fulfilling the reservation norms," JNUSU president Geeta Kumari said, alleging "tampering" of the reservation policy by the administration.