‘85 per cent quota for Delhiites will mar DU’s rich culture’

New Delhi: The Delhi government’s proposal to reserve 85 per cent quota in Delhi University (DU) colleges for the state-based students does not seem to have gone down well with the students and faculty. They believe that this will affect the diverse and rich culture of the campuses.

“DU is a Central university. It is famous for accepting students from various backgrounds, be it from different states or foreign countries. The 85 per cent reservation will just destroy that ‘rich campus culture,’” Aniket Bakshi, a second year student at SRCC, said.

The AAP government has proposed reserving 85 per cent seats in state funded colleges in the city. 28 colleges affiliated to DU receive financial assistance from the state government. In a letter to DU vice-chancellor, the Delhi government had urged him to announce reservation for Delhiites.

“If people of Delhi are funding these colleges, don’t they have a right to benefit from them? While thousands from across the country come and study in Delhi University, our students are forced to go outside,” chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

“The varsity has always encouraged students from different parts of the country to take admission in affiliated colleges. If 85 per cent seats are reserved for only Delhi-based students, how do you expect it to remain a Central university? I understand that Delhi students suffer, but that is on account of the high level of competition. DU is known for giving equal treatment to students coming from various backgrounds. It should continue doing the same,” Akanksha Gupta, a DU professor said.

Even the university officials believe that being a Central university, domicile-based reservation is not possible in DU.

“Under the Delhi University Act, even if a college is funded by the state government, we cannot provide domicile-based reservation,” a varsity official said.