A mother who applied for her child’s admission to the Jamia Nursery is upset with the procedure and has written a letter to the Vice Chancellor regarding reservations.
Addressing Professor Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar Jamia and chairman, school admission, she wrote: “Representation seeking necessary remedial corrective action for 2025-26 admissions at Mushir Fatma Nursery School by conducting fresh draws as per the prevailing rules and cancelling the outcome of draws held on 9th March 2025 as the entire process got vitiated because of discriminatory admission methodology.”
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On Jamia Nursery admission, she wrote: “I am the mother of a child who applied for admission at your Mushir Fatma Nursery School. When I saw the YouTube Live on 9th March 2025, the methodology used in the lucky draw surprised and shocked me. It looked self-defeating to the reservation policy adopted by JMI. I have studied in Jamia from Prep. to M.Phil. So, I had an idea how quota works in admissions. Still I took time to research how reservation categories work in the admission process across courses in Jamia and even outside Jamia in other universities. I spoke with experts. And they were as shocked as I am.”
It has come to the knowledge of the OT that reservation policy for Jamia nursery school and university is not same. It is understood that in Jamia nursery school there is lucky draw and candidate gets only one chance.
Official version is awaited on the issue.
However, in the letter that is in position of the OT, the mother said: “The system of reservations is designed to promote social equity and provide opportunities for disadvantaged groups. The Indian Constitution provides for reservations under Articles 15(4), 15(5), and 16(4) to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes.
“But before reservations come into play, there is a unanimous understanding for striving to create and maintain a level-playing field for all sections of the society. That is, all sections should have equal opportunity to seats under unreserved or general category. This has been adopted by Jamia Millia Islamia, like all other Universities. Let me quote from page 21, Ordinance 6 (VI), uploaded at https://www.jmi.ac.in/upload/Criteria-2/2.1.3/guide/ 2.1.3guide.pdf
“4.5.3 If a candidate in the reserved category qualifies for admission in the “general” category he/ she shall be transferred to the “general” category.
“Moreover, according to the circular No. AC-8/(19)2011 dated 26th May 2011 issued by the then Registrar of Jamia Millia Islamia, the admission in general category has to be filled by a candidate of any reserved category provided he/she qualifies on merit and it gives an excellent methodology and sequence to fill the reserved categories. (This circular is placed at page 10 of the same PDF as referred above.)
“However, in Jamia Nursery admissions there is no entrance exam, or to say that there is no “merit list” as mentioned in the above circular. Then, the serious issue arises that how would a reserved category candidate for Jamia Nursery admission “qualify” for the general category seat?
“The answer is surprisingly so simple. Everyone who applies “qualifies” for the general category by default. Not allowing a reserved category candidate to compete or to say “participate” in the general category is blatantly criminal. And is completely against the letter and spirit of the very reason reservations were introduced.
“In the current methodology at work in Nursery admissions:
● Only a general category candidate gets to participate in the general category draw.
● Similarly for each category the respective candidates of that category compete among themselves.
“Though this looks so simple and free from any bias, this reduces the probability of the reserved category candidates being selected drastically, while increasing the probability of the general category candidate being selected. This is in contravention to the reservation policy guidelines cited above.
“To exploit this flawed methodology which is biased against reserved categories, many actually reserved category candidates had applied in the general category as evident from the draw results.
“How can such a methodology which reduces the probability of a reserved category being selected be adopted? Applying in a reserved category has to be an advantage, but we see that this flawed methodology has made applying in a reserved category a disadvantage.
“The other big problem in this methodology is by restricting the lucky draw of candidates amongst the respective categories only, the institution is not just depriving the reserved category candidates to be eligible for admission under the unreserved category but also restricting/capping their count to the abysmally low number of reserved seats only.
“This has turned the concept of reservations upside down. While reservations are introduced to have a Minimum number of reserved category candidates, without considering those reserved category candidates who qualify in general/unreserved category. But what is happening in this flawed methodology at work is that the reserved seats count has become the maximum number possible headcount of a category in a class. This is completely against the spirit of reservations.
“Hence, the procedure of lucky draw should be according to the process outlined in the above mentioned circular No. AC-8/(19)2011 of the Registrar. That is,
1. First, in the lucky draw for general seats, all candidates irrespective of the category they have applied in should get to participate.
2. Second, in the lucky draw for reserved seats all candidates of Muslim, Muslim women and OBC categories and other Muslims of PWD, KM, J&K should get to participate.
3. Third, in the lucky draw for Muslim women seats, all candidates of Muslim women and women of OBC and other Muslims should get to participate.
4. Then only Muslim OBC
5. Then only PWB
6. Then only KM
7. Lastly, only J&K category.
“Accordingly, wait listed candidates can be selected for each category.”
A copy of the letter also sent to Headmistress, Mushir Fatma Nursery School, Jamia Millia Islamia and the Vice Chancellor, she wrote: “In view of the above, it is requested that your good self may kindly, take remedial action immediately and conduct a re-draw for this year’s nursery admissions (2025-26) which is in line with the adopted reservation policy according to circular No. AC-8/(19)2011, importantly taking into consideration the flaws highlighted by an aggrieved parent on account of non-compliance of prevailing laws/rules as mentioned above. I am confident that you will take a positive and immediate corrective action in this matter to implement the correct methodology.”
