Degree admissions halted as minority groups protest

MUMBAI: Admissions to degree courses at the University of Mumbai have been stalled for a few days, states a circular released by the university late on Thursday evening. This move comes after various minority groups protested against the October 2017 Bombay high court order which allowed minority institutes to do away with a separate quota for those from the reserved categories during the ongoing MU admissions.

Colleges affiliated to MU released their first general merit list on June 19 and for the first time in several years, no separate list was released for the reserved category students.

On Thursday, supporters of various minority groups rallied at Mantralaya and demanded for help from the state social justice as well as the education department.

“We have now been assured by Rajkumar Badole, the state minister for social justice, that the government will fight this matter at the Supreme Court. Colleges cannot continue the admissions process without further notice,” said an official from the state education department.

“Many students have lost their chance at seats in colleges of their choice because of this rule. It’s unfair to students from reserved categories,” said a supporter.

According to a 2001 MU circular, minority colleges offering BA, Bcom and BSC and other professional courses had to share their 50% minority seats between the open and reserved category applicants.

In a writ petition, St Xavier’s College and Maharashtra Association

of Minority Educational Institutions had challenged its validity, fairness and constitutionality last year.

In October 2017, the Bombay high court made it clear that in respect of reservation of seats to the backward class candidates shall not apply for minority education institutions affiliated to MU.

“We have followed the Bombay high court order as well as the university circular dated June 5 while releasing the first merit list earlier this week. Now that admissions have been stalled, we hope there will be no need to redo the admissions all over again,” said the principal of a suburban college.