OBC quota was against the rationale of setting up Jamia: JTA

The first Central University to be accorded the minority status, Jamia would now be able to reserve 50 per cent of its seats for Muslim candidates in line with the ruling of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI).

"We went to the NCMEI when the case of 27 per cent OBC quota came up because that would have taken away the rationale of Jamia's establishment, which was for the benefit of Muslims.

"Modalities have to be worked out now to see how the Muslim quota and the internal quota are included in the set up," said Prof Rizwan, Secretary of JTA.

It is, however, not yet clear whether the University will be able to implement the quota from this session.

JTA joint secretary Badshah Alam said the prospectus of the University has not been issued yet, and it is possible that the policy could be implemented from this session.
However, he added, that it would take a few years before it takes final shape.

Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung has called an emergency meeting of the Academic Council and the Executive Council tomorrow to discuss the issue, and decide the way forward.
The two apex bodies of the University are likely to adopt the NCMEI ruling in the meeting and discuss the procedures that would now be followed by the institution to implement it.

"There is a legal process to be followed now.
"The Academic and Executive Councils will now endorse the ruling and forward it to the Ministry of Human Resource Development to be included in an ordinance," said Prof M Rais Khan, President of Jamia Teachers Association (JTA).

The University currently has 25 per cent seats reserved for internal students in all courses, and the other 25 per cent for SC/ST and physically disabled students.
The status of minority institution will give Jamia the liberty to do away with the SC/ST quota.

"The change will not result in any extraordinary situation or any radical change as a particular type of quota will replace another.

"Fifty per cent of the seats will still be open for the general category as earlier," he said.
The teachers also sought to dispel any apprehension that the quality of education would suffer or the character of the University would change.

Others said it was also important to keep the internal quota intact.
Rizwan said the University will have to go through certain legal processes to transform the ruling into policy.

Prof Tabrez Alam Khan, former secretary of JTA, who was the petitioner in the case to the NCMEI said it was a relief that the long-pending demand of the University has been accepted.

"We were very optimistic in this case and Aziz Basha judgement in the Supreme Court only strengthened our stand," he said.