Women quota to be introduced in PU, orders HC
Looking forward for a step to be taken in alignment with the women empowerment, The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed Panjab University to keep a quota for girl child in all of its departments.
Till now, the University is nit providing the provision of this quota in courses regulated by Dental Council of India, Bar Council of India, National Council of Technical Education, and Medical Council of India. The courses in Panjab University that fall under this are Universal Institute of Legal Studies, Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, and University Institute of Engineering and Technology.
The High Court observed the decision to be taken place when a Jalandhar resident, Eshita Bedi decided to challenge the reservation rules. It was not difficult for the High Court to take the decision against the varsity, stating, "The laudable object as it manifests itself is to encourage the girl children, besides weaning away people from their obsession of having a male child. It is for this reason that a single girl child, as also one from among two girl children, have been singled out for preference,” the high court bench comprising of justices Mahesh Grover and MS Sindhu observed.
HC took note of the handbook that declares where two girl children are involved without any brother, one of them would be admissible on the character of preference which has to be liberally applied across the board. The bench further observed that this preference should be seen across all the courses irrespective of their regulator. The court asked the University to grant Eshita, the girl in question should be given admission, if she is eligible.
Other colleges of PU also follow the same trend of reservation, but it is not clear from the order if it is applicable to PU affiliated colleges too. “I am yet to see the order. But an order applicable to PU will be applicable to colleges as well,” controller of examination, PU, Parvinder Singh said.