Changes in PhD admission policy spark outrage among students, accusing VC of advancing RSS agenda
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Jamia Millia Islamia, one of India’s premier minority institutions, is embroiled in controversy following allegations that its new Vice Chancellor, Professor Mazhar Asif, is systematically eroding the university’s minority character. The controversy stems from recent changes to the university’s PhD admission policy, which critics claim disproportionately favour non-minority students over minority candidates.
Professor Mazhar Asif, who assumed office in October 2023, has been accused of aligning with the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Students and activists allege that the changes in the reservation policy are part of a broader effort to dilute the minority identity of the institution, which was established to serve the educational needs of Muslims in India.
On 12 November 2024, the university’s Academic Council and Executive Council issued an ordinance amending the reservation policy for PhD admissions. Previously, if suitable candidates were not available under the reserved categories, the seats remained unfilled. However, the amended policy now allows these seats to be filled by non-minority students, a move that has sparked widespread outrage.
Documents accessed by Clarion India reveal that the new policy has led to a significant imbalance in admissions. For instance, at the AJK Mass Communication Centre, only one out of four seats was allocated to a minority student, while the remaining three went to non-minority candidates. Similarly, at the Centre for Culture and Media Governance, just one out of seven seats was reserved for a minority student, with the remaining six going to non-minority applicants.
“This is a blatant violation of the university’s minority reservation policy,” said a student leader who wished to remain anonymous. “The administration is systematically closing the doors of higher education to Muslim students. Jamia is one of the few institutions where minority students feel represented, and now even that is being taken away.”
Several students have expressed their dismay over the changes, accusing the administration of sabotaging the university’s minority character. “Jamia Millia Islamia is not just a university; it is a symbol of hope for minority students across the country,” said Ayesha Khan, a PhD scholar at the university. “By altering the reservation policy, the administration is betraying the very community it was meant to serve.”
Another student, Mohammad Arif, echoed similar sentiments. “The new VC is clearly working on the RSS agenda. This is not just about admissions; it’s about erasing the Muslim identity of Jamia. We will not let this happen without a fight.”
Jamia Millia Islamia was established in 1920 by Muslim leaders to promote education among the Muslim community. In 2011, the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) officially recognized Jamia as a minority institution, affirming its unique identity and mission. The NCMEI noted that the university was “established by Muslims, for Muslims, and in the interest of Muslims.”
Following this recognition, the university implemented a reservation policy that allocated 50% of seats in every course to Muslim students. Within this quota, 30% of seats were reserved for Muslim students, while 10% each were set aside for Muslim women, Muslim backward classes, and Muslim tribals.
The controversy comes at a time when minority institutions across India are facing increased scrutiny and pressure. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court upheld the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), another prominent Muslim institution. However, critics argue that the current administration at Jamia is attempting to undermine its minority character from within.
The RSS has long been critical of minority reservations in educational institutions. In 2011, Feroz Ahmed Bakht, an RSS affiliate, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging Jamia’s minority status. While the petition was dismissed, the recent policy changes have reignited fears that the RSS agenda is being advanced through administrative means.
The recent policy changes at Jamia Millia Islamia align with the broader trend of right-wing organisations attempting to limit Muslim representation in educational institutions. Critics argue that these moves are part of a well-orchestrated effort to bring historically minority institutions under the broader national framework, thereby diluting their distinct character and purpose.
Educationists and activists are urging the government and judiciary to intervene before irreparable damage is done. If left unchecked, these changes could permanently alter the educational landscape for Muslim students in India, further marginalising a community that already struggles with systemic barriers in higher education.
“This is not just about Jamia; it’s about the soul of India,” said social activist Fatima Nafees. “If we allow minority institutions to be stripped of their identity, we are setting a dangerous precedent. The fight for Jamia is a fight for the pluralistic values that define our nation.”
A number of students at Jamia Millia Islamia have approached Clarion India to express their distress over the policy changes.
One student stated, “Jamia is one of the last few educational spaces where Muslim students can access higher education without systemic discrimination. The current administration is making calculated moves to erase this safe space.”
Another student remarked, “If this policy remains, it will close the doors of higher education for many Muslim students. This is nothing less than an attack on our right to education.”
Despite these concerns, the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) has denied any policy change that undermines the institution’s minority character. “There has been no change in the reservation policy. The admissions are being conducted as per the existing guidelines,” the PRO said. However, students and activists remain unconvinced, pointing to the admission data as evidence of the policy shift.
As the debate rages on, students and activists have vowed to resist the changes, organizing protests and seeking legal recourse. For now, the future of Jamia Millia Islamia hangs in the balance, with its minority character at the heart of the controversy.
A student leader summed up the growing concern, stating, “Jamia was built with the vision of empowering Muslims through education. If this vision is erased, the very purpose of this institution will be lost.”
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Jamia Millia Islamia can withstand this challenge to its minority status or whether it will succumb to the pressures of an increasingly majoritarian educational policy.
