Concerned over high cut-off marks hampering the process of filling up seats reserved for the Other backward Classes in Delhi University colleges, the government is contemplating several measures, including moving the Supreme Court.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday said the existing system was “working against the policy of access to education” and that “he would sit” with the Vice Chancellor on the issue of high cut-off. He also hinted at the option of moving the Supreme Court, saying the 10 per cent margin fixed by it was, in fact, not fulfilling the aspirations of OBC students who wanted admission. “But I have not taken a final decision on it. This is one of the options,” Mr. Sibal said on the sidelines of a function here.
It would be difficult to get OBC candidates if the cut-off was above 90 per cent, he said.
The court order on OBC reservation allows a maximum of 10 per cent relaxation for filling all seats.
On other issues, Mr. Sibal said his dream was to see a single, country-wide examination for engineering admissions becoming a reality by 2013. “This is my objective, desire and dream.”
Asked about Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi's move to start a grooming programme for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, which came under attack from some quarters as being “discriminatory,” Mr. Sibal said the institute had withdrawn the proposal from their website.
A section of the academic community felt that the programme could have caused “segregation” between students on the basis of caste.
