Hindu College protest: How a 20% quota cap triggered a month-long row

What began as a dispute over Sports and Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) admissions at Delhi University's Hindu College has grown into a month-long protest. Teachers are now demanding the removal of the principal, a probe into alleged irregularities and greater accountability.Hindu College staff have sought the principal's removal and an independent enquiry into alleged irregularities. New Delhi,Oct 15, 2026 11:03 ISTThe protest at Delhi University's Hindu College is no longer just about admissions. What began with allegations that a 20% cap on Sports and Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) quota seats was breached has snowballed into a wider dispute over the college's administration, finances and treatment of protesting faculty members.The Hindu College Staff Association (HCSA) began its dharna on September 14, and the agitation entered its second month in October.THE 20% RULE THAT STARTED IT ALLThe controversy centres on admissions for the 2026-27 academic session. Delhi University rules limit the share of supernumerary Sports and ECA quota seats that can go to a single undergraduate programme to 20%.According to the staff association, Hindu College had 48 seats under these two categories. However, BCom (Hons) received 17 seats and BA (Hons) Political Science received 15, taking their combined allocation to 32. The association alleged that this distribution breached the prescribed limit and left fewer opportunities for eligible candidates in other courses.Delhi University, however, attributed the excess allocation to an inadvertent error in its central admission algorithm. Principal Anju Srivastava has maintained that admissions were handled through the university's centralised process.FROM SEAT COUNTS TO A NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION The disagreement soon escalated. On August 18, the HCSA passed a no-confidence motion against the principal, accusing the administration of facilitating irregular admissions. The association subsequently widened its demands, seeking an independent enquiry and intervention by the university.The protest also intensified after show-cause notices were issued to faculty members, including HCSA president Ratan Lal and other office-bearers. The association has demanded that these notices be withdrawn, arguing that staff members should not face disciplinary action for raising concerns.WHY THE PROTEST IS NOW MUCH BIGGERAdmission allocations are now only one part of the dispute. The association has raised allegations involving financial transparency, procurement, faculty promotions and leave, and decisions allegedly taken without proper consultation with the elected Staff Council.It has also questioned the use of college resources and the disclosure of governing body records. These remain allegations raised by the staff association and require independent examination.WHAT DO THE TEACHERS WANT NOW?The HCSA has sought the removal of Principal Anju Srivastava and governing body chairman TCA Rangachari, a time-bound enquiry and temporary university intervention in the college's administration.The association wants the allegations examined independently, while the central question remains unresolved: how did the quota allocation exceed the prescribed limit, and who should be held accountable? Until these concerns are addressed, a dispute that began with admission numbers continues to challenge confidence in the institution's governance.- Ends