Our CorrespondentNew Delhi, June 29
The announcement of the admission list of SC/ST and physically challenged applicants today didn’t bring much of a smile to the faces of at least SC/ST candidates as most of them could not even get into the desired colleges of Delhi University. However, many physically challenged applicants had some pleasant surprises.
Some of the SC/ST candidates tried to tear the admission list from the notice board (Sports Complex, North Campus, Delhi University), as most of them were allotted courses which they had not even mentioned in their desired list of subjects.
“The Delhi University authorities have allotted me BA Pass in Zakir Hussain College. But my percentage is 52 and most of the applicants with such percentage have made it to Ramjas and Kirori Mal College. I hadn’t even mention the name of Zakir Hussain College in my preferred list. I just don’t know what to do now,” said Rajkumar Hembram, an ST candidate.
Jitendra Kumar had another problem. His registration name wasn’t there in the admission list. “My name is not even there in the admission list. When I approached the authorities, they told me to come on July 8 as my name is in the category of No Further Choice (NFC),” said an agitated Jitendra
“We are not arbitrarily allotting admission. We also have to keep in mind the number of seats in a particular college and the course the admission seeker is opting for. The person who has scored higher marks obviously will be preferred,” said one of the DU officials.
“These problems can be sorted out as we have called the SC/ST applicants on July 8. The authorities will consider the case of such applicants,” he added.
Dr Hema Raghavan, Dean, Student Welfare, is sceptical. “Last year, the colleges were not accepting SC/ST applicants. The reasons are still not clear to me. I am just apprehensive that they might be doing that again,” she said.
Fortunately, for physically challenged candidates, it was a smooth sailing. And some of them were even shocked to find themselves in some of the best colleges of Delhi University.
“I thought I won’t be able to get in any of the colleges because my percentage in the class XII exams was not that great. But when I saw the admission list, I was stunned to have been selected for Sri Ram College of Commerce,” said an ecstatic Ravi Kumar, a blind candidate.
The most preferred course among the physically challenged remained Music Honours even though there are only a few colleges that offer the course.
“There are only four to five colleges in Delhi University that offer Music Honours at the undergraduate level such as Indraprastha College for Women, Hindu College, Daulat Ram College and Ramjas College,” said a DU official.
