DU teachers ask UGC to extend deadline for submission of documents for OBC (NCL) applicants 

A group of Delhi University teachers have written to University Grants Commission (UGC) chairperson Vineet Joshi seeking directions to the university administration to extend the deadline for submission of documents by applicants, particularly for applicants from the Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer), for undergraduate programmes by 15-20 days.

In their letter on Sunday, the teachers said that many OBC (NCL) applicants had approached them saying they are facing issues in renewing their certificates and are apprehensive about missing the application deadline.

As in the previous years, the DU administration has in its recent admission bulletin directed OBC (NCL) candidates to submit their families’ income certificates issued after March 31, before the end of the first phase of admissions, the deadline for which is yet to be declared.

One of the signatories, Anand Prakash, executive member of Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) and former member of the Delhi government’s Commission for Other Backward Classes, said, “Many students have reached out to us saying that they need more time to submit their certificates.”

A university official said that the applicants are given “ample time” to submit their forms. “We follow the guidelines laid down by the DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training). The updated certificates are required in order to determine whether the candidates are eligible,” the official said.

The letter, which was submitted by Mr. Prakash, along with Ashok Kumar, former DUTA executive member, Ram Kishore Yadav, member, Academic Council, and Sarvendra Kumar, former member of the Delhi government’s OBC Commission, stated: “As per estimates, nearly 10% of the eligible OBC students miss out on admission opportunities at DU each year due to this procedural bottleneck [the requirement to submit income certificates issued after March 31 before the end of the first phase of admissions].” When reached for comment, the UGC Chairperson did not offer a comment.