Posted on 06/14/2008 11:18:22 PM PDT by Arjun
Delhi: 50% Christian quota in St Stephen's
NEW DELHI: After months of speculation, St Stephen’s on Saturday clearly stated its stand on its minority status - 50% of seats in the college will now go to Christians. In what could be a blow to the hopes of students from other communities, St Stephen’s spokesman Sunil Mathew made it clear the percentage could even increase in future.
‘‘For this year, 50% is the cap on reservation for Christians. Next year we will look into the issue again.” Some seats will, however, be added for the sports quota.
Of the seats, 40% will be open to the general category, 10% has been reserved for non-Christian SC/ST and physically handicapped while students from the sports category will get a 5% quota over and above the sanctioned seats. All four groups have been categorized as Category A for Christians, B for general merit, C for SC/ST and physically handicapped and D for the sports category.
Mathew told TOI the decision was a reflection of what the college’s supreme council felt. ‘‘Members felt Christians were not getting sufficient representation in the college and so the quota had to be increased,” he said.
The release sent by Sunil Kumar Singh, Bishop, Delhi and chairperson, St Stephen’s Council clearly states:
“In any event, admission in Category A shall not be less than 50% and would also include Dalit Christian, Christian SC/ST and physically handicapped Christian candidates to the extent of 10% of the total number of sanctioned seats in the college.” Last year, the 40% Christian quota included 10% for Dalit Christians but there was no provision for the physically handicapped or SC/ST category.
The college will create new seats for students coming through the sports quota. But the admission procedure remains unchanged — 75% weightage to class 12 marks, 15% to class 10 marks and 10% to the interview.
It’s not as simple as that-institutions like St.Stephens come under the category of ‘Minority’ institutions, which have constitutional protections.But those were to uplift large sections of the poor among such communities.The vast majority of folks studying at St.Stephens are filthy rich.IOW, you dont need government funding for an institution which is attended by the richest kids in the country.
In addition to creating illwill with other religious groups, these moves create schisms among Christians.
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