JNU mulling extra-points to transgender admission seekers

After introducing the transgender option in the gender column of its admission forms, Jawharlal Nehru University is now considering granting five extra points to the applicants identifying themselves under the category.
The varsity has formed a committee to formulate a policy detailing the modalities of transgender admissions. The panel has come up with its recommendations which will be placed before the Academic Council for its approval.
JNU's admission policy already has a provision for 5 "deprivation points" for females, Kashmiri migrants and applicants from the Defence category.
"We have proposed that five extra points be awarded to the students seeking admission under the category. If the proposal is passed, they will also be under the deprivation pointers category" a committee member said.

After the Supreme Court judgment that declared transgender to be the third gender in 2104, the University Grants Commission (UGC) made it mandatory for all the colleges and universities to include third gender category as an option on the admission forms.
Taking into account the role of outsiders in the

controversial event, the university panel has found Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, both of whom face sedition charges, "guilty" of arousing communal, caste or regional feeling or creating disharmony among students.
While no specific charges have been made out against students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who has also been slapped with a sedition case in connection with the event, the university has found ABVP member Saurabh Sharma "guilty" of blocking traffic on February 9, the day the controversial programme was held.

The university had on March 11 revoked the academic suspension of eight students including Kanhaiya after the probe panel submitted its report.
The probe panel is believed to have recommended rustication of Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar, Anirban and two other students for their alleged role in the event.