University of Delhi has rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim that interviews are used to remove candidates on the basis of caste, saying that the university’s admission process does not rely on interviews for most courses.
In a statement issued late Friday, the university said student admissions are mainly based on scores from the Common University Entrance Test. It added that interviews are not part of the standard process for most undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
The response came after Gandhi’s remarks at an event in Lucknow marking the birth anniversary of Kanshi Ram. During his speech, Gandhi alleged that interviews in universities were used to eliminate candidates based on caste.
“Interview is just a way to eliminate students. They ask what your caste is and then you fail in the interview,” he said while addressing the gathering.
The university also said that if Gandhi’s remarks referred to faculty recruitment, the institution has appointed thousands of teachers across different categories in recent years.
“We strongly object to such comments as they create a non-conducive environment in the university,” the statement said, adding that the Leader of the Opposition should verify facts before making such claims.
Gandhi also criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, alleging that there is limited representation of OBC, Dalit and Adivasi communities among its senior pracharaks. He described the situation as a violation of constitutional values.
The remarks triggered reactions within the university community.
The Indian National Teachers’ Congress and several professors from Delhi University said records from some departments show that in a number of recruitment drives, posts reserved for SC, ST and OBC categories were advertised but suitable candidates were not selected after interviews.
Some faculty members pointed to documents from university departments where candidates from reserved categories were declared “not found suitable” at the interview stage despite meeting eligibility requirements.
Delhi University, however, maintained that its recruitment process follows established rules and procedures.
The university said appointments are made according to guidelines set by regulatory bodies and that selections are conducted through due process.
The issue has now added to an ongoing debate around recruitment practices and representation in higher education institutions.
