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The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
House panel looking to pursue quota for Muslim OBCs in AMU, Jamia Millia Islamia
A parliamentary panel on the welfare of Other Backward Classes will meet with officials of the Education Ministry and representatives of Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia over measures taken by them to secure representation of OBCs in admissions and employment this June. The meeting schedule for the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of OBCs noted that on June 13, the above-mentioned representatives of the Union Ministry and the minority institutions will be expected to give 'evidence' on the measures they have taken to secure the representation of OBCs in their universities, both in admissions and employment, along with measures taken for their welfare. Sources aware of the agenda for the meeting have told The Hindu that the parliamentary committee intends to pursue a quota for Muslim OBC communities within these minority institutions, both for admissions and in employment. A member of the panel told The Hindu, 'The panel understands that these are minority institutions that do not provide for quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. But the question that the committee feels the need to ask is why these institutions do not have a specific quota for Muslims who fall under the OBC socio-economic category.' Currently, the AMU has no reservation policy for admissions or employments based on religion or socio-economic category. JMI has a reservation policy for admissions under which a 10% quota is reserved for Muslim OBCs and STs but does not have a reservation policy for SCs, STs and OBCs in employment as per a Parliament reply. The parliamentary committee is currently chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party's Satna MP Ganesh Singh. While the AMU has no reservation policy for admissions or employment apart from the quota reserved for students who have studied in schools run by the AMU, the JMI implements a reservation policy in admission to courses, which was notified in 2011. As per the JMI reservation policy available on their website, the university reserved 30% of seats in each course for candidates who are Muslim; 10% is reserved for Muslim women; and a 10% quota is reserved for Muslim candidates from either OBC or ST backgrounds. Apart from this, the JMI has quotas earmarked for Persons with Disabilities and internal students of Jamia. According to the reservation guidelines of the university, the JMI is exempted from implementing the quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), introduced in 2019. In response to a question in Parliament on teacher recruitment at the JMI, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar on April 2, 2025, said: 'JMI does not implement the reservation policy for SC, ST and OBC considering itself minority institution.' Mr. Majumdar added, 'Presently, the matter of minority status of JMI is sub-judice in Hon'ble High Court of Delhi.'
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
House panel on OBC welfare likely to discuss caste enumeration in coming months
With the Union Cabinet greenlighting caste enumeration in the next Census, the doors have now been thrown open for the House Panel on Welfare of Other Backwards Classes to begin deliberations on the way ahead. The parliamentary committee, headed by BJP MP Ganesh Singh, is likely to add this to the agenda of its meetings in the coming months, The Hindu has learned. Members of the committee, both from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition, told The Hindu that the issue of caste census had been raised in meetings of the panel from the first meeting after it was constituted last year, adding that discussions can now focus on how the caste enumeration should be done and what the Government should consider as it proceeds. Analysing 1931 caste census Sources close to the Office of the Chairperson said the committee is prioritising discussion on the caste enumeration among its activities. They added that these deliberations will begin with a careful examination and analysis of the 1931 caste census, the last such exercise conducted. 'It will have to be seen what the 1931 Census counted and where these castes stand now. There will also be a special focus on how to begin enumerating castes that have migrated since they were last enumerated,' one committee member told The Hindu. Examining caste status Another member, Chhattisgarh MP Vijay Baghel said that the issue will see spirited discussion as soon as the chairperson brings it on the agenda, adding that the issue of difference in status of castes across States will also have to be examined. 'There is a lot of work to be done. Rules and procedures will be designed, suggestions will be taken from all quarters, and all issues will be brought before the Government,' he said. Indian National Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, 'We have been raising the issue of caste census in each of the committee's meetings ever since the first sitting. Now that the Government has agreed to it, the panel will be able to have productive discussions and even members of the ruling party will welcome it.' The first member added, 'The intent is for the committee to prepare a report with suggestions that the Government could use as it proceeds for the exercise. It will involve speaking to stakeholders, State commissions, caste associations on how to enumerate castes and how to list out general castes among other issues.' Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav also noted that OBC MPs in the panel had been raising this issue from the moment it was constituted, adding that successive meetings will present opportunities to discuss the matter threadbare. 'It is a big thing [Prime Minister] Mr. Narendra Modi has done by deciding to do the exercise,' he said. An official in Mr. Singh's office said the committee's next meeting, earlier scheduled for the end of May, is being held off for the time being considering India-Pakistan tensions this week.
