AUT flays BDU authorities for ‘denying’ internal BC-Muslim reservation admission

The Association of University Teachers (AUT) Tamil Nadu has condemned the Bharathidasan University (BDU) administration for denying the statutory 3.5% reservation for the Backward Classes (BC) Muslim category in admissions to the M.Sc. Medical Physics programme for the academic year 2026-2027.

In a press release on Tuesday, AUT general secretary K. Raja said, “AUT strongly contests the communication dated July 2, submitted by Dr. P. Muruganandham, professor and head (in-charge), Department of Medical Physics to the Registrar of BDU, wherein it claimed that the rules of reservation were strictly followed. The facts, however, appear to suggest otherwise. While a seat earmarked for the SC (A) category – benefiting from the 3% internal reservation within the 18% Scheduled Caste quota – was duly allotted, there is no convincing explanation as to why the corresponding third seat within the BC quota was not allotted to the BC-Muslim category, which is entitled to a 3.5% internal reservation under the Government policy.”

The association also rejected the department’s assertion that the BC-Muslim candidate placed 13th in the overall merit list would be considered for admission in the case of a future vacancy. The proposal to increase the intake from 10 to 15 seats from the next academic year was also criticised. “This suggestion does not address the core issue of the denial of the BC-Muslim internal reservation and appears to be an attempt to divert attention from the real grievance instead of rectifying the violation,” the statement said.