College admissions: Quota debate to intensify

Mumbai: The Supreme Court (SC) has settled the issue of reservations in minority institutes, but the political debate over it is likely to only intensify in the coming days. After the SC decided that there would not be any quota for students of the backward section in minority institutes and colleges, the University of Mumbai (MU) has announced it would resume first-year degree admissions from Saturday in all its affiliated colleges. However, several people argued that children from privileged backgrounds would secure admissions with lower marks based on their linguistic minority status, while students from the backward class will have fewer opportunities.

As per the new and revised schedule, the second merit list will be out today at 5 pm after which students — as per their names allotted in colleges — can submit and verify documents and complete the payment process on July 16 to 18. The third merit list will be out on July 18.

As of now, only the first merit list was released on June 19 in MU-affiliated colleges, and admissions had been halted before the second list was out as several students organisations lashed out against the HC ruling. As per the ruling, 50 per cent reservations for the minority category would not include reservations of seats for scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribe (ST) and other backward class (OBC) category students. However, the groups were unhappy with the decision because, according to them, reservation is a right of students.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS), the student wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which was the first to take up the issue of removal of reservation for linguistic minorities in minority colleges, is not satisfied with the SC decision. Santosh Gangurde, vice-president of MNVS, said, “We accept the decision of the apex court to dismiss of the special leave petition (SLP) of the government and MU. Our struggle will, however, continue as it’s a question of the rights of the sons of the soil and a big fight for the right to constitutional remedies.” According to him, in the coming week, representatives of all students’ organisations will be moving to Delhi to approach parliamentarians.

“This decision is a major setback for students from maginalised sections of society. It will reduce their seats,” said Shulekha Shanbag, a professor of a Mumbai-based college.

Several people, however, are positive about the move as they feel there should be a balance between all sections in society. “It’s a move everyone was awaiting; and now that it’s here, it’s only making us happy. There is reservation for backward section students in non-minority colleges too. They can opt for such colleges,” said a parent on the condition of anonymity.

College principals are relieved that a decision has been made finally. “We have been waiting for this for the past two weeks. MU has also sent us the notification about the admission process ahead. More than us, it’s a huge relief for the students who have been anxious about the entire scenario till now,” said the principal of a Bandra-based college.  

Academic year already delayed by two weeks
The admission process for first year-degree students will resume from Saturday in the wake of the apex court judgment, but the academic year has already been delayed by two weeks.

Classes that were supposed to start by June-end will now begin in the third week of July for the city colleges those are affiliated under the University of Mumbai (MU).

Apart from MU, all other universities, colleges and institutes outside Maharashtra have alrea-dy started their academic year. Though MU officials are positive about catching up, students feel the mess created in the beginning of academic year is a bad start.

“When I was in Class 12, I remember reading about the result delay mess of 2017-18. So many students had suffered due to that! Now I understand how it feels being in that state. Our batch had a very bad start and we are already disappointed by the way things are going on right now,” Samanth Singh, a student said.

Echoing Samanth’s sentiments, Twinkle Chaddha, another student, said, “The government, before taking any decision, should have planned beforehand to avoid the consequences  that we students face.”

“As a parent, I feel  thatstudents who want admissions in first-year degree colleges are new to the college world. They are fresh in mind and naive.  The level of anxiety students faced in the past two weeks were terrible and it would definitely leave them with a bad impression,” said a concerned parent.