Panjab University (PU) has proposed implementing OBC reservation in its recruitments, following recommendations from a committee set up by the vice-chancellor. The proposal sets aside 27% of seats for OBC candidates, with 12% exclusively for those from Punjab. The Dean Student Welfare (DSW) has shared the proposal with protesting student parties, assuring prompt action.
However, the process for quota in student admissions is still under examination. PU has faced a dilemma between implementing the Punjab or central OBC reservation policy. The Punjab policy reserves 12%, while the central policy mandates 27%. The latest proposal aims to incorporate both policies but awaits approval from the university’s governing bodies—the senate and the syndicate.
While one student party has accepted the proposal and ended its protest, another, Students For Society (SFS), remains dissatisfied. SFS President Sandeep highlighted that the proposal only addresses future recruitments, not current admissions. Officials noted that including additional seats for reserved classes might surpass the constitutional mandate of 50% reserved seats.
Past attempts to implement OBC reservation faced challenges, including funding issues from the University Grants Commission (UGC). Despite PU’s special status as an inter-state body corporate, UGC previously stated that the central policy applies only to centrally funded institutions. Discussions on admission quotas at PU continue amidst these complexities.
