Not satisfied with 50% quota, some Jamia teachers maange more

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When the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) granted “Minority Institution” status to central university Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on February 22, 2011 there was celebration on the campus and most of the teachers had welcomed the move for they thought it would pave the way for “empowerment” of Muslim students.

Now after more than a year, some teachers are asking for more so as to empower their family members and themselves. In a recently held ordinary meeting of the General Body of the Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA) in the auditorium of the faculty of Engineering and Technology, the agenda items were: reservation for employee wards and restoration of interview in all courses.

The other issues raised in the meeting included exemption of regular teachers from Ph. D entrance test, re-employment of teachers and others. A look at the issues raised in the meeting gives an impression that some teachers are more interested in empowering themselves and their family members than the university.

An insider, who was part of the meeting, said on the condition of the anonymity that a few teachers opposed the issue of reservation and restoration of interview.

“But many teachers are in support of introducing interview again in professional courses so as they could manipulate things and have more say in admission procedures. Pressure is being mounted on vice chancellor Najeeb Jung to reintroduce interview. Earlier, the VC had taken the right decision by scrapping interviews from professional courses. And the result was for everybody to see as more than 50 per cent Muslim students managed to get into these courses something that never happened before. Some wasted interest wants to ruin the university.”

He said introducing interview means inviting more litigation and nepotism.

“It makes no sense to have interview in courses when most of the universities across the country have done with it. I don’t understand why some people continue to insist on it. And when 50 per cent quota is already implemented there is no need for interviews. It will further complicate the matter and chances are high that students denied admission might accuse university of partiality. Right now there is transparency.”

Also, the issue of reservation for employee wards was raised. Insiders said with the university already having 50 per cent quota for Muslims, it is extremely difficult to reintroduce staff quota and the question is: where will they be adjusted? It needs to be pointed out that staff and Urdu quota was scrapped in 1996 by court order and it makes no sense to raise it again. The issue of increasing teachers’ retirement age from 65 to 70 also surfaced.

“Throughout the meeting, teachers were just busy talking about ways to lift themselves. There was no talk about how to further improve the university and add new courses. With such people at the helm of affair one can only say that the university doesn’t need an enemy. Some teachers treat the university as their personal property to be distributed among their family members,” said university well-wisher on the condition of the anonymity.