Confusion prevailed at Kirori Mal College over admissions under the sports and extra-curricular activities (ECA) quota. For the second consecutive year, the college hasn’t admitted students under the quota because of confusion over letting students choose their own course. However, Delhi University rules say that students would be allotted courses based on their credentials as the five per cent quota is on seats per course and not the total number of seats in the college.
According to students, the seats under several courses meant for sports and ECA quota are left vacant each year that are never allotted to students. “There are courses like the regional language Honours courses which often go vacant. There are a lot of seats under the quota in these courses. But due to the rule of five per cent per course, those seats are left vacant. If instead of five per cent per subject, the college applies five per cent quota on the total number of seats, the problem will be solved to a great extent,” said Ashish Rastogi, a student who wanted admission under sports quota.
Some professors in the college agree with the students and have even requested the principal to make the amends. A professor said that earlier it was five per cent of the total number of seats. “We used to always give students the option to choose their own course. However, last year, the university issued this rule that we have to accommodate students based on five per cent of seats in each course. This had led to a lot of chaos in the college even last year because of which admissions under this category didn’t take place,” said the professor. A source in the college said that if this continues, there will be no admissions in this category even this year.
The matter has now been referred to the University for clarification. Officials in the university have said that the principal can bend rules and allow five per cent of total seats under the quota but only after the university’s go ahead. The college is also keeping meetings to address the issue.