OBC quota started in DU, JNU

After the Supreme Court laid down guidelines for the implementation of OBC reservation in central universities, many saw that judgment as a move towards social justice.

After the Supreme Court laid down guidelines for the implementation of OBC reservation in central universities, many saw that judgment as a move towards social justice. Without wasting any time, the Delhi University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University made sure there was at least nine per cent reservation in DU and 12 per cent reservation in JNU.

While the quota regime still remains a source of discontent in both the universities, some feel it made for a positive change in the educational system. DU saw around 12,000 OBC students apply for the 5,000 seats, as opposed to the 9,000 students last year.

In JNU, students criticised the move and went on strike over the implementation of the quota. The university, however, saw a smaller number of OBC students applying. A teacher there said that in the first year it was normal for problems to arise. 8220;Next year, things will get better,8221; he said. In 2009, DU aims to implement an 18 per cent OBC quota, while JNU plans to implement the required 27 per cent.

JNU up in arms after court stays student polls
In their 37th year, students8217; union elections at Jawaharlal Nehru University were abruptly brought to a standstill this year, after the Supreme Court put a stay order on them on October 22 8212; just eleven days before the elections on November 3. In protest, the dissatisfied students of JNU chose the same date to launch a massive human-chain against the stay order, saying that JNU elections have been very 8220;democratic8221; in the past and the SC order was uncalled for.

The Supreme Court had sent a notice to the university, as JNU follows its own constitution while conducting elections, and this year, it didn8217;t follow the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines. JNU students then formed a Joint Struggle Committee to fight the order. The last hearing was held on December 8, wherein the Supreme Court observed: 8220;We will see that educational institutions should not become a political battlefield. Our aim is to see that there should not be a free flow of money and muscle power,8221; leaving some students fuming.