Children's Research University in Faces Heat Over Unfilled Reserved PhD Seats

Ahmedabad: 

Children’s Research University (CRU) has come under scrutiny after the Scheduled Caste–Scheduled Tribe Federation submitted a formal complaint alleging violations of reservation norms in the university’s PhD admission process. The complaint claims that mandatory reservation policies were not properly followed while allocating doctoral seats across multiple disciplines.

According to the representation, the university had announced 114 PhD seats across various subjects. However, after the completion of the admission process, only 61 candidates were granted admission. The Federation alleged that despite sufficient availability of seats, a disproportionately large number of general-category candidates were included in the final merit list.

The complaint further stated that several SC and ST candidates who successfully cleared the group discussion and personal interview (GDPI) stages were denied admission, even though their qualifications were comparable to those of selected general-category candidates.

Specific subject-wise discrepancies were highlighted. In Sanskrit, seven seats were advertised but only six candidates were admitted, reportedly leaving the reserved-category seat vacant. In Psychology, 18 seats were available, yet admissions were granted to only nine candidates. An ST candidate who cleared GDPI was allegedly denied admission despite multiple seats remaining unfilled.

Similar concerns were raised in Gujarati, where 11 candidates reached the GDPI stage but only five were selected. While all general-category candidates who cleared GDPI were admitted, only four out of 10 reserved-category candidates reportedly received seats. The complaint also claimed that the waiting list comprised exclusively general-category candidates.

In response, university officials denied any irregularities, asserting that admissions were conducted strictly in accordance with established rules. They clarified that reserved-category candidates who secured higher merit were accommodated in the general category and granted admission accordingly. Officials added that the admissions committee determines the number of candidates admitted per subject, and any unfilled seats may be addressed in the next admission cycle, which is conducted every six months.