Jamia reserved 50% of its PhD slots for Muslims as a minority institution, but the government has breached this rule

Asaduddin Owaisi
@asadowaisi
Jamia reserved 50% of its PhD slots for Muslims as a minority institution, but the government has breached this rule. It aimed to boost Muslim higher education, which dropped by nearly 1.8 lakh students in 2020-21. Muslims form 14% of India’s population yet only 4.5% of PhD enrolments. The Modi government axed the Maulana Azad Fellowship, a scholarship for minority PhD students, clearly aiming to keep Muslims educationally, economically, socially, and politically disadvantaged.

Sabotaging Muslim reservation?: Quota rules flouted in Jamia Millia PhD admissions

Sahid Faris

Jamia Millia Islamia, one of the country’s most prestigious universities with minority status, is facing strong criticism for violating its 50% reservation policy for Muslim students in PhD admissions for the academic year 2024-25.

The university, which has a mandated reservation structure of 30% for Muslims, 10% for Muslim women, and 10% for Muslim OBCs and STs, has allegedly failed to uphold this quota across multiple departments.

This move has sparked widespread outrage among students, activists, and student organisations, who view it as a betrayal of the university’s foundational principles and an attempt to systematically erode the rights of marginalised communities.

The issue traces back to October 2024, when newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif issued his first ordinance. In a subtle yet significant alteration of language, the ordinance changed the phrase “shall pay due attention” to “may pay due attention” concerning JMI’s reservation policy.

This seemingly minor modification went unnoticed until the PhD admission process revealed a clear pattern of non-compliance with the minority reservation policy. Many fear this is part of a broader strategy to weaken JMI’s status as a minority institution and open the door to policies that dilute its commitment to social justice.

Several departments have failed to meet the mandated reservation for Muslim students. At AJK Mass Communication & Research Centre, only one out of four total seats was allocated to Muslim students, despite having qualified candidates.

The Centre for Culture, Media & Governance allocated just one out of seven total seats to Muslim students, marking a stark departure from the mandated reservation.

The Department of History and Culture assigned only two out of 12 seats to Muslim students, raising serious concerns about bias in admissions.

Similarly, the Department of Psychology granted only two out of 10 seats to Muslim students, undermining affirmative action policies.

The discrepancies in reservation policies extend to other departments as well. Even in cases where the number of seats was increased, the university left many reserved seats vacant rather than ensuring they were allocated to Muslim candidates. This practice directly contradicts JMI’s 2021 and 2024 ordinances, which state that if suitable candidates are not available as per JMI’s reservation policy, the seats must remain unfilled rather than being reallocated to general category applicants.

A former PhD scholar at Jamia, speaking to Maktoob, said that “The educational backwardness of Muslims in India has been well-documented in various government reports, including the Sachar Committee Report. As one of the few Muslim minority universities in the country, Jamia Millia Islamia plays a crucial role in facilitating their educational upliftment.”

Further he emphasised the gravity of the situation. “According to legal provisions, Jamia must uphold its minority status by ensuring at least 50% representation for Muslim candidates, with particular attention to Muslim women, Muslims belonging to Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Muslims belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs). However, the recently published PhD admission results in several departments and centers indicate a failure to meet these mandated quotas, which is a concerning development. The university administration must demonstrate greater sensitivity and commitment to maintaining equitable minority representation.”

A former law student of JMI, Sahil Raza Khan, has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the university’s actions. Sahi, who qualified for PhD admission through UGC-NET, filed a petition against the university, arguing that the administration’s new approach is unlawful. The court, which was initially set to hear the plea on Monday, has postponed proceedings to February 27.

Adding to the concerns, the university has obscured category-wise admissions in its results list, making it difficult to track how the seats are being allocated. Activists argue that this lack of transparency is deliberate, especially given that the university has, in the past, publicly displayed personal details of students who participated in demonstrations.

This raises suspicions about the administration’s intent in masking category-based admissions and avoiding scrutiny over its selective implementation of reservation policies.

Student organisations and leaders have strongly condemned the administration’s decision, viewing it as an attack on affirmative action and JMI’s minority status.

Fraternity Movement President Jiyad Muhammed strongly criticised the ongoing violation of the 50% Muslim reservation policy in PhD admissions at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), calling it a direct assault on affirmative action and the university’s autonomy.

“The denial of rightful seats to Muslim students is not just a breach of institutional policies but a larger attempt to erode the inclusive and equitable framework of JMI,” Jiyd told Maktoob.

He further emphasised that the Fraternity Movement JMI condemns these actions and demands immediate rectification.

“We will continue to resist any efforts that dilute JMI’s historical commitment to social justice and the rights of marginalised communities,” he asserted.

The Muslim Students Federation (MSF) at Jamia Millia Islamia has also strongly opposed the university authorities move. The organization claims that the changes made to Ordinance 9 (IX) undermine Jamia’s minority status and deny rightful provisions for Muslim aspirants.

“MSF Jamia Millia Islamia strongly condemns the amendment and addendum made in the Ordinance 9 (IX), which directly impacts the reservation policy for PhD admissions at the university. This move undermines the institution’s minority status and the rightful provisions for Muslim students,” read the statement.

MSF, as part of its next steps, has sought legal counsel and reached out to its legal advisor and Member of Parliament, Adv. Haris Beeran, to explore legal options and initiate further action.

Students’ Federation of India (SFI) Secretary Sanam Husain called the move “scary and dangerous,” accusing the administration of issuing the ordinance strategically. “They released the tweaking notice very carefully. It is problematic, as it was not properly communicated to a larger audience. Similar notices may be issued in the future. Many things are changing after the arrival of the new VC, who is not student-centric.”

Sanam also pointed out the administration’s increasing hostility toward student activism. “The admin and VC’s job is to facilitate academia in a student-centric way. They are meant to serve the students, but their purpose seems to be getting lost. They are not loyal to the university or its founding principles. The entire struggle to make Jamia a minority institution will go in vain.” Sanam added.

While talking to Maktoob, NSUI President Adnan emphasised the legal and ethical concerns surrounding the amendment, arguing that it directly contradicts the university’s commitment to minority rights.

“It’s a violation of the policy that grants a 50% reservation to Muslim students in PhD admissions. This goes against the fundamental principle of the Jamia Act, which is rooted in the ‘upliftment of minorities,’” he stated.

He further highlighted how a seemingly small linguistic change in the policy could have far-reaching consequences.

“A mere change from ‘shall’ to ‘may’ makes a significant difference. If we don’t challenge this amendment now, it could set a dangerous precedent for the coming years,” Adnan warned.

The official statement from the Fraternity Movement condemned the dilution of JMI’s minority status and the imposition of EWS reservations, which do not apply to JMI.

“The ongoing violations of the 50% reservation policy for Muslim students in PhD admissions at JMI and the attempts to dismantle its autonomy are unacceptable. The admission process for 2025 exposes a deliberate disregard for affirmative action, with multiple departments failing to implement the mandated quotas.”

Further complicating the issue, the university administration appears to be pushing for the implementation of the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation, which is not applicable to JMI due to its minority status.

This move is being viewed by student organisations as a calculated attempt to undermine the legally mandated 50% Muslim reservation. By subtly introducing the EWS category, the administration is attempting to dilute the rights of Muslim students under the guise of economic inclusivity.

However, JMI’s founding principles were established to uplift the historically marginalised Muslim community, and any deviation from this framework threatens its core mission. Student leaders argue that this is part of a broader effort to erode the university’s autonomy and reconfigure its admission policies in ways that weaken its minority character.

The SFI JMI also denounced the university’s actions. In the official statement they said,”The blatant violation of the 50% reservation policy for Muslim students is a direct assault on the rights of marginalised communities and the principles of equitable education. The administration’s refusal to adhere to its own ordinances sets a dangerous precedent of exclusion and injustice. JMI has long stood as a pillar of inclusive education and a stronghold for historically marginalised communities. Any attack on its reservation policies and institutional autonomy is an attack on its very essence and purpose.”

SFI’s statement also included demands to the administration. They urged JMI to strictly implement the 50% reservation policy for Muslim students in all departments and ensure that seats remain vacant if the reservation criteria are not met, as per university ordinances. They called for the withdrawal of the imposition of EWS reservation, which is not applicable to JMI, and demanded the safeguarding of the university’s autonomy and its commitment to inclusive education.

Despite the mounting criticism, the university administration has remained tight-lipped. When contacted by Maktoob, Registrar Mahtab Alam Rizvi and the university’s Public Relations Officer declined to comment on the issue.

At the center of this controversy is Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif, whose tenure has been marked by controversial decisions. Asif, previously from JNU’s School of Languages, was appointed as JMI’s VC by President Droupadi Murmu for a five-year term. Since his appointment, there has been a visible shift in administrative policies, particularly those curbing student activism and diluting affirmative action measures. His decision to tweak the university’s reservation policy has been widely interpreted as an attempt to undermine JMI’s minority status and autonomy.

The ongoing PhD admission process at Jamia Millia Islamia has exposed an alarming disregard for affirmative action and institutional policies. With multiple departments failing to uphold the mandated 50% reservation for Muslim students, the credibility of JMI’s minority status is under threat. Student organisations, activists, and legal experts are raising their voices against this systematic exclusion, urging immediate corrective measures.