The dilution of the reservation policy sparks widespread anger among students and activists
Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A storm has erupted over allegations that Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), a prominent minority institution, is reducing its reservation quota for Muslim students in PhD admissions.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has accused the government of violating the university’s long-standing policy of reserving 50% of PhD seats for Muslim candidates, sparking outrage among students and activists.
In a strongly worded post on social media, Owaisi stated, “Jamia, being a minority institution, had reserved 50% of its PhD slots for Muslims, but the government has violated this rule. The purpose of this reservation was to promote Muslim higher education, which already saw a decline of about 1.8 lakh students in 2020-21.”
He further highlighted the broader issue of Muslim underrepresentation in higher education, saying, “Muslims constitute 14% of India’s population, yet their share in PhD enrolment is only 4.5%. The Modi government has abolished the Maulana Azad Fellowship for minority PhD students, with the clear aim of depriving Muslims educationally, economically, socially, and politically.”
The controversy stems from an ordinance issued in October 2024 by JMI’s newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Mazhar Asif. Reports suggest that the ordinance altered the language of the university’s reservation policy, replacing the phrase “will give due regard” with “may give due regard.” This seemingly minor change has led to ambiguity in the implementation of the reservation policy.
The issue came to light during the recent PhD admissions process, where several departments reportedly failed to meet the mandated Muslim reservation quota.
According to media reports, the following departments have not adhered to the 50% Muslim reservation policy:
- AJK Mass Communication and Research Centre: Only one out of four seats has been allocated to a Muslim student, despite qualified candidates being available.
- Centre for Culture, Media and Administration: Just one out of seven seats was allotted to a Muslim student, far below the mandated quota.
- Department of History and Culture: Two out of 12 seats were reserved for Muslim candidates.
- Department of Psychology: Two out of 10 seats were allotted to Muslim students.
These discrepancies have raised serious concerns about the university’s commitment to its minority character.
The alleged dilution of the reservation policy has sparked widespread anger among students and activists. Fareeha Khanam, a student, said, “The reduction in seats for Muslims is a clear violation of the university’s commitment to its minority character. The administration must provide an explanation and take corrective measures immediately.”
Another student, Ayisha Parween, added, “We worked hard to qualify for these seats, only to find that the reservation policy is not being followed. It is extremely unfair.”
Activists have also joined the chorus, demanding accountability. “Jamia Millia Islamia was established to empower minority communities, particularly Muslims. Any attempt to dilute its reservation policy is a betrayal of its founding principles,” said a member of a minority rights group Zaki Rahman.
As the controversy gains momentum, pressure is mounting on the university administration and the central government to address the allegations. While JMI officials have yet to issue an official statement, legal experts suggest that any violation of the university’s minority status could face legal challenges.
For now, students and activists are determined to keep the issue alive, demanding transparency and justice. “We will not let this go unnoticed. The administration must reinstate the original reservation policy and ensure fair representation for Muslim students,” said a student leader Torab Ahmad.
