http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/15/stories/2007061505200300.htm
New Delhi St. Stephen's increases admission quota Staff Reporter Dalit status of the applicants will be decided on the basis of the certificates issued by the Church authorities NEW DELHI: The admission quota for the Christian community in St. Stephen's College has been increased from 32 per cent to 40 per cent from the upcoming new academic session. According to Officer on Special Duty Valson Thampu, as much as 25 per cent of this 40 per cent, that is 10 per cent of the total seats, will be reserved for Dalit Christians. Announcing the policy guidelines for admissions as ratified by the Supreme Council -- the highest decision-making body of the College -- Mr. Thampu on Wednesday said: "The admissions from the general category will be 40 per cent and that will be based on pure academic merit. Admissions from Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe categories, physically challenged candidates and wards of war victims will be 15 per cent, while 5 per cent will be reserved for sports quota." The Dalit status of the applicants will be decided on the basis of the certificates issued by the Church authorities. Christian candidates who qualify on the basis of sports quota will not be counted against the 40 per cent seats set apart for candidates from the community, as they will be admitted not because they are Christians but because they are sportsmen, explained Mr. Thampu, who is officiating as Principal of the college. "Providing for a 10 per cent intake without relaxing the cut-off percentage will be a mocking illusion for such candidates. In this context, relying on the precedence for admissions to Sanskrit (Honours), the Supreme Council has ruled that the cut-off for Dalit Christians be on par with the cut-off for Sanskrit (Hons.) candidates which is 60 per cent," said Mr. Thampu. The cut-off for students from Christian community and SC/ST categories will be 15 per cent lower than the general students and it could be lowered further if there are not enough candidates to fill the quota, said Karam Masih, chairman of the Supreme Council and Governing Body of St. Stephen's. However, interviews will be held for all categories of students. Thampu as OSD to officiate as Principal was from May 21, 2007, to January 14, 2010, irrespective of what developments take place.
