ACHR files complaint with NHRC against Delhi University

Asian Centre for Human Rights today filed a complaint with National Human Rights Commission urging it to intervene against Delhi University's alleged discriminatory new policy to introduce Hindi or other Modern Indian Languages (MIL) as a compulsory subject.
Steps should be taken to make Hindi or other MIL optional and allow students who have not studied MIL to take other subjects in lieu of Hindi or MILs, Delhi-based ACHR Director Suhas Chakma said in a release here.
"This step by Delhi University aimed to effectively exclude students from North East India in clear violation of the Article 14 of the Constitution of India relating to the right to equality and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Minorities", he alleged.

Under the current system, students taking admission to Delhi University are allowed to take any other subjects instead of Languages if any student has not studied MIL at the Higher Secondary and Secondary School level.
A Committee set up by the DU for structuring of the syllabus for under graduate courses has recently made it compulsory for all students to opt for either Hindi or 22 other Modern Indian Languages in the graduation course of the University.
"This is nothing but a conspiracy to keep the students of North East India out of Delhi University and this is an act against national integration", Chakma added.

There are hundreds of languages in North East India but only three languages i.E., Bodo, Assamese and Manipuri are recognised as MIL and as most students are not taught MIL but their languages, they will be effectively kept out from Delhi University, he claimed.