Endless wait of girl seeking PhD admission in BHU, Education News, ET Education
Varanasi: To secure admission to PhD (Hindi) programme through EWS quota, Archita Singh has been staging indefinite sit-in at Banaras Hindu University‘s central office for past over eight days. Her protest is followed by demonstration for 17 days, till Apr 6, by another student, Shivam Sonkar, who secured admission.
At a time when BHU has no vice chancellor—former VC Prof Sudhir Jain’s tenure ended in Jan–the protest has caught the eye of political parties and caste-based organisations. Archita Singh has been approached by acting VC Prof Sanjay Kumar, Samajwadi Party’s Chandauli MP Virendra Singh, UP Congress Committee chief Ajay Rai, a group of Ballia natives and groups like Karni Sena. Following acute dehydration because of rising heat, she was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, but she returned and resumed her protest.
“After post-graduation in 2023, I attempted to gain PhD admission in 2024 but though I qualified this year, some people who are supporting their candidates for admission to the seat I am eligible for and are trying to eliminate my candidature by terming my EWS certificate old,” said Archita, adding, “In previous years, they allowed candidates to bring renewed certificate after seeking undertaking, but in my case, they made me run from pillar to post to force me to give up,” said Archita.
Her father and brother, employed in private sector in Ballia, fund Archita and her sister’s education in Varanasi and their mother, a housewife, stays with them in a rented house.
Archita told TOI, “Even after providing EWS certificate with an undertaking and necessary documents, the department’s admission committee did not send me link for admission. When I met the acting VC, registrar and other authorities and complained through email, university officials held a meeting discuss the issue but avoided meeting me and giving any satisfactory reply.” She said that when they did nothing for 15 days, she started her sit-in after forwarding mails to chairman of university admission coordination board, ministry of education and the Women’s Commission the same day. “If I hadn’t protested, they would have admitted someone else by now,” she said.University officials declined commenting on the issue, saying they had formed committee to investigate if any admissions were made based on conditional certificates and their report was expected duly.
Board sources said officials of department concerned complicated the issue, as there was a provision that all relevant and valid certificates, including those for quotas, need to be uploaded along with the application, and original copies produced at the time of interview. “During verification of the girl’s documents at the department, it was found that her EWS certificate, which is renewed every year, was outdated. Despite there being no provision for giving further time, the department conditionally accepted her claim as EWS. When offers were sent to EWS candidates based on merit between Mar 17 and Mar 21 to seek admission, the girl failed to bring updated EWS certificate.
Sources said the department had complicated the issue and the university’s admission body questioned reason for time given to her, the department said they had been allowing aspirants to produce documents later after seeking an undertaking. Amid pressure from candidates on the waiting list, university officials are waiting for investigation committee report.
Earlier, Shivam Sonkar protested, following which he secured PhD seat in SC quota after initial denial by BHU despite qualifying for research entrance test (RET). Congress and SP showed interest in the protests and sent representatives like MP Ragini Sonkar and others of SC category for support.
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