Jamia Millia Islamia Criticized: Owaisi Claims Dilution of Muslim Quota

A significant uproar has emerged regarding Jamia Millia Islamia’s (JMI) alleged reduction of its reservation quota for Muslim students in PhD admissions, Clarion reported.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused the government of violating JMI’s policy, which traditionally reserves 50% of PhD seats for Muslim candidates. He highlighted the broader issue of Muslim underrepresentation in higher education, noting that Muslims make up 14% of India’s population but only 4.5% of PhD enrolments.

The controversy stems from an ordinance issued by JMI’s Vice-Chancellor, Mazhar Asif, which altered the university’s reservation policy language, leading to ambiguity in its implementation. Reports indicate several departments failed to meet the mandated Muslim quota during the recent admissions process, prompting outrage among students and activists. Calls for accountability are growing, with demands for the university to restore its original reservation policy to ensure fair representation for Muslim students. The administration has yet to respond officially to the allegations.