Delhi University (DU) has decided to create five seats in each of its colleges from next year that will be offered through the discretionary power of the authorities.

Academics fear that such a move would promote arbitrary allocation and sycophancy. No other central university or central educational institution has a discretionary quota.

In a notice on Monday, DU stated that the “College University Seats” would be available in undergraduate courses over and above the existing seats. The university authorities will suggest the names of two students for admission through the discretionary quota while the college principal will be able to nominate three.

According to the notification, students with scores within 10 per cent of the last cut-off of the respective category of the candidates can be offered these seats. This means a general category student who will get admitted through the quota must secure within 10 per cent marks of the last cut-off for general category students.

DU executive council member Rajesh Jha said the discretionary quota was synonymous with corruption and should not be introduced in educational institutions.

“DU is a premier university. It has always given admission on the basis of scholastic and co-scholastic merit and principles of affirmative actions for the historically neglected socially deprived sections. This has helped talents from diverse fields to pursue education and excel in life. Any other consideration in admission will lead to corruption and mediocrity,” Jha said.

Over 60 colleges function under DU. They have increased their seats by 25 per cent in the past two years to implement the 10 per cent quota for the economically weaker sections (EWS). But there has been no commensurate expansion in teaching staff and infrastructure.

“The issue was not discussed in the executive council. This seems to be a direction from the top. After DU, the government may ask IITs and IIMs to start a discretionary quota. This is not good for higher education,” Jha said.

The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), a teachers’ group, criticised the university administration.

“When there is intense competition to secure admission in DU colleges, such a move is not only totally unethical but also illegal,” said a statement issued by DTF president Nandita Narain. “Candidates with lower cut-offs will be allowed admission by the administrators at different levels.”

Messages from this newspaper to DU vice-chancellor P.C. Joshi on the quota did not elicit a response.