Panjab University awaits Centre's approval for OBC reservation

Panjab University (PU) is waiting for the central government to approve a policy for 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) candidates in faculty recruitments. The university submitted this proposal nearly a year ago, but there has been no response from the Centre. The university has been unsure whether to follow Punjab's 12% OBC reservation policy or the central government's 27% policy. In May 2024, a committee suggested using the central 27% policy, with 12% specifically for OBC candidates from Punjab. However, the proposal still needs approval from the centre and cannot be implemented without a senate in place. Currently, over 50% of teaching positions at PU are vacant. The vice-chancellor, Renu Vig, highlighted that PU is prioritizing recruitment for these empty posts. There are 1,378 sanctioned positions, but only 100 are being filled at the moment. An OBC Reservation Implementation Forum, made up of faculty and research scholars, protested outside the vice-chancellor's office. They demanded that the ongoing recruitment be canceled until the OBC reservation policy is in place. Last year, student groups also pushed for the reservation to be applied to admissions. Gautam Bhoria, a research scholar and chairperson of the Ambedkar Students Association, expressed concerns about the challenges of implementing the proposal. He mentioned that it might lead to disputes between candidates from Punjab and those from other regions regarding the reservation percentages.