DU Faculty Alleges Discrimination in PhD Admissions at Delhi School of Economics

According to the letter sent to VC, while 11 seats were designated for unreserved candidates, only one seat each was allocated for scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) candidates.

In a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi, several faculty members from Delhi University have raised concerns regarding alleged discrimination against reserved category students in PhD admissions at the Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics (DSE).

The letter, signed by prominent faculty members including Dr. J.L. Gupta, Dr. Seema Dass, Sh. Rajpal Singh Pawar, Dr. Alok Pandey, Dr. C.M. Negi, Dr. Sunil Kumar, and Dr. Mamta Chaudhary, highlights significant irregularities in the PhD admission process. It accuses the department of setting higher cut-off marks for reserved category students compared to unreserved category students, thereby discouraging applications from marginalized sections.

According to the letter, while 11 seats were designated for unreserved candidates, only one seat each was allocated for scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) candidates. Despite this, the results revealed that all 14 seats were filled by candidates from the unreserved category, leaving the SC and ST seats conspicuously vacant.

The faculty members express concern over the possibility of reserved category seats being converted to unreserved seats or deliberately left vacant. They assert that such practices perpetuate systemic discrimination and hinder the access of marginalized students to higher education opportunities.

The letter urges the Vice-Chancellor to intervene in the admission process and ensure justice for students from backward classes. It calls for strong action against any individuals responsible for discriminatory practices, emphasizing the importance of upholding principles of equality and inclusion in prestigious educational institutions like DSE.

The faculty members conclude by requesting the Vice-Chancellor's attention and necessary action to address the issue and uphold the university's commitment to fairness and social justice.