Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) N. Gokulakrishnan has urged the Centre to provide 25% reservation to local students in admission to all courses offered by Pondicherry University.
Raising the issue during zero hour in the Upper House, Mr. Gokulakrishnan said the students were an agitated lot because of lack of commitment from the part of the university in implementing quota in all subjects.
The territorial administration had provided 700 acres of land for setting up the university. The administration continued to support the university by providing electricity, water and transportation. Initially, the university had been providing 25% reservation to local students in eight courses which was later extended to 18 courses.
A sub-committee appointed by the Pondicherry University had (in 2013-14) recommended a uniform reservation of 25% for local students in admissions to all courses.
The recommendation was accepted by the Academic Council and later it was ratified by the Executive Council. However, the then Vice-Chancellor, instead of implementing the decision of the Executive Council, referred the subject to the Centre, Mr. Gokulakrishnan told the House.
The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research continued to allocate 25% of seats in admissions.
The National Institute of Technology at Karaikal provides 50% seats to students from the region.
“What we are demanding is not a concession but a moral obligation,” he added.
