Jamia Flouted Admission Rules to Induct Minister's Kin, Reveals RTI

Jamia Millia Islamia flouted its own admission norms to induct the nephew of a union minister, alleged the student activists of National Students Union of India (NSUI). Citing a reply to a Right to Information application, the student activists said that Abhay Agnihotri, a student of Mewar Law Institute, affiliated to Chaudhary Charan Singh University, was given direct admission to fourth year of the BA LLB course of the university without appearing for the entrance examination or even filling the admission form. The admission was in contravention of the existing admission rules which mandate that all aspiring students must appear in the entrance examinations conducted by the university.

The office order signed by Nuzhat Praveen Khan, Dean, Faculty of Law read, “On the recommendations of Hon'ble Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, Abhay Agnihotri, a five year integrated B.A LLB (Hons.) course student of Mewar Law Institute affiliated to Chaudhary Charan Singh University is admitted as a special case in the fourth year of five year BA LLB (Hons.) course of Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia." The order added, “This will be a standalone case and will not set a precedent for consideration of such other cases in the future." 

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Talking to NewsClick, Laraib Niyazi said that the statute regarding provisions for admissions clearly mentions that admission to each programme/course of study will be on the basis of marks obtained in the written exam followed by interview, wherever applicable, and no inter-university migration is permissible. He added that the admission exposes the nexus between the administration and the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders (BJP). “It is well known that our current chancellor Najma Hepatullah, on whose recommendation the admission took place, is a well-known BJP leader. The administration must explain its dual standards with regard to the admissions,” he said.

"Why a relative of the union minister was given such preferential treatment whereas the common students are expected to go through the tedious process? Students of Jamia Millia Islamia is enraged by the blatant flouting of the university norms which are applicable on every student. Such discrepancies actually take away fair chances from deserving students who work hard to crack the admission test. We demand a fair reply from the VC," he added. 

NewsClick tried reaching Registrar A P Siddiqui for his response through calls and e-mails, however, they remain unanswered.

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