'From mandatory to optional': Jamia Millia Islamia makes 50% Muslim reservation optional

April 4, 2025 by News Desk

The recent amendment to Jamia Millia Islamia’s PhD admission policy has sparked criticism, as it now gives individual departments the discretion to apply the 50% reservation for Muslim students rather than mandating it.

This change, announced via an official notification on the university’s website, has raised concerns about the potential dilution of the institution’s minority quota.

The amendment was approved by Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif Khan on behalf of the Academic and Executive Councils, with Registrar Prof. M.D. Mehtab Alam formally signing the notification.

According to the updated policy, “While granting admission to PhD programmes, the faculty/department/centre may pay due attention to JMI’s reservation policy adopted for admissions.”

Previously, it was a mandatory requirement that 50% of the seats be reserved for Muslim candidates.

The move has drawn strong opposition from the All India Students Association (AIFA), which has called it a direct attack on the rights of Muslim students.

The student body has also highlighted the alleged exclusion of Muslim candidates from certain departments, noting that many seats remain vacant despite the availability of qualified Muslim applicants.

In a press release issued on Friday, AIFA demanded the immediate reversal of the amendment. “Jamia Millia Islamia is a constitutionally protected minority institution, and it is obligated to reserve 50% of its seats for Muslim students. Making this reservation optional is a deliberate attempt to weaken the policy,” the statement read.

The controversy has reignited debates over the role of Jamia Millia Islamia as a minority institution and its responsibility to uphold constitutional safeguards for Muslim students.

Students and activists continue to push for the restoration of the previous policy, fearing that the amendment could lead to a gradual erosion of minority representation at the university.