Four colleges defy DU on cut-offs

Claim minority status, offer relaxations

Four Delhi University affiliated colleges run by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee have rejected the notification sent by DU regarding not giving relaxation of three to five per cent in cut-offs to Sikh and non-Sikh students who opt for Punjabi apart from their main course.

The June 18 notification by DU said that Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce and Mata Sundri College for Women are not minority institutions, and thus are not eligible for relaxation in cut-offs.

DU has also challenged the provision of such relaxation in cut-offs in the Delhi High Court, and the court has not yet given its verdict on the issue. DSGPC maintains that the colleges were certified as minority educational institutions by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) in 2011.

“DSGPC is arguing that the four colleges are run on Gurdwara funds. It is the management of the college, and is a part of our governing body. Like other minority institutions, these four colleges are not asking for 50 per cent reservations,” said a principal of one of the four colleges.

“The colleges also admit non-Sikh students. Only 20-25 per cent students avail these relaxations in the four colleges. We are stuck between the management’s and the varsity’s decision. The management wants to work for the benefit of Sikh students and to promote Punjabi.

We cannot go against the decision of the college management,” said the principal.
A DSGPC member said that despite repeated attempts to meet the vice chancellor over the issue, there was no response.

“Such relaxations are being given to students for the past six decades and also in other colleges affiliated to other universities. We are trying to get an appointment with the human resource development minister,” said Parminder Pal Singh, DSGPC media advisor.

Legal action

“DU and NCMEI come under the HRD ministry. Now if there are issues between these two entities, we are bearing the brunt. Our last resort will be to go to court; we don’t want to take legal action, but we need some response. It is a matter of the future of our students,” said Singh.