Dalit student’s sit-in at BHU seeking PhD admission enters Day 14
On Thursday, BHU Rector Professor Sanjay Kumar, who is also Officiating Vice Chancellor, called Shivam to his office and assured him that his admission would be considered.
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Banaras Hindu University (Express Archives)A dharna outside the residence of Banaras Hindu University’s (BHU) Vice Chancellor by Shivam Sonkar, a Dalit student seeking admission to a PhD course at the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, entered its 14th day on Thursday.
Shivam started the agitation after his admission was rejected for the research programme as there were only three seats in the Research Entrance Test (RET) under the non-Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) category.
On Thursday, BHU Rector Professor Sanjay Kumar, who is also Officiating Vice Chancellor, called Shivam to his office and assured him that his admission would be considered.
Shivam, however, continued the sit-in, saying he would end his agitation only after the admission goes through.
The VC’s office did not respond to queries till press time.
Shivam told The Indian Express: “There are seven seats for PhD, including four under JRF and three in non-JRF through the Research Entrance Test. I applied for the latter and secured second rank. Since there was no seat for the SC category in admission through RET, the three seats went to general and OBC candidates.”
He said: “The department could not fill three of the four seats under JRF category. The university has the authority to convert the vacant seats to accommodate the candidates from other categories. I requested the varsity authorities to allow my admission through JRF category. But it was turned down. The result of the RET was out on March 20 and I have been sitting on dharna since March 21.”
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