New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has constituted a five-member committee to examine complaints by student organisations regarding the allocation of scheduled tribe (ST) seats in PhD programmes.
The committee will be chaired by Prof Vivek Kumar, dean of School of Social Sciences, according to an Oct 26 notification. Student organisations, including SFI, have alleged that against 53 ST seats required under the 7.5% reservation quota for the 2026-27 PhD admissions, JNU advertised only 38 seats, leaving a shortfall of 15. Its members include the university’s ST liaison officer, chief adviser of Equal Opportunity Office and the deputy registrar (legal), while the assistant registrar of SC/ST/OBC Cell will be the member secretary. The chairperson may co-opt additional members if required. The move follows complaints by student organisations alleging discrepancies in the implementation of reservation norms. National Commission for Scheduled Castes had also sought an explanation from JNU over the alleged shortfall, while National Commission for Scheduled Tribes directed Equal Opportunity Cell to examine the matter. They also alleged a shortfall in reservations over the past six years along with discrepancies in SC and PwBD reservations. JNU Students’ Union has demanded representation on the newly constituted committee, saying it should include student representatives.