It was a tense Wednesday at Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College after the police were called in to pacify applicants who were allegedly refused admission despite clearing the cut-off.
Wednesday was the last day of admission as per the first cut-off list.
Some students alleged that they were denied entry to the college despite having cleared the cut-off for admission to B.A. (Programme). According to them, the college claimed that all seats were full.
Daulat Ram had set the cut-off for B.A. (Programme) at 91%, which is lower than the cut-offs at other colleges in North Campus. The course itself has drawn the maximum number of applicants (1,40,619) this year.
Student leaders jump in
The situation escalated after the aggrieved students approached a helpdesk set up by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) volunteers, who intervened on their behalf to ensure that they were not refused seats.
Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president Amit Tanwar said several students who had cleared the cut-off were not allowed to enter the college as the administration had closed the gates. “According to university rules, all students who clear the cut-off are to be admitted. There is no first come, first serve policy. Several applicants had come to seek admission today [on Wednesday] as it was the last day to do so under the first list. They were, however, told that seats were full. This caused panic,” said Mr. Tanwar.
The police were asked to step in after some agitated applicants and student leaders managed to barge into the college.
Administration speaks
A senior member of the college administration said after the student activists intervened, the college decided to admit all students who had cleared the cut-off. However, he added, the students may not be able to take up their choice of subject combinations that are offered as part of the course.
Daulat Ram College is an all-girls institution in North Campus that offers 169 seats for B.A. (Programme). It also has a women’s hostel.
