Silchar, April 26: All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students' Association demanded 80 per cent reservation for the students of five south Assam districts in the admission to masters degree courses in Assam University, Silchar.

In a memorandum submitted to the vice-chancellor of Assam University yesterday, the association alleged that the students were being discriminated against on ethnic lines.

"This allegation is genuine and snowballing into a major crisis from a students' agitation to a mass movement as the university's admission procedure is specially aimed at systematically depriving the students of Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts," the memorandum added.

The chief adviser of the association, Rupam Nandi Purkayastha said, "Students from this region are economically backward and they are solely dependent on Assam University for pursuing higher education. Earlier, vice-chancellors had relaxed marks for the students of these five districts in the admission to masters degree courses, but we want 80 per cent reservation in the admission of the students of the five districts who have complied with the cut-off marks fixed by the university."

"The attempt to deprive the students of the five districts is a definite blow to the growth of Assam University. Such a ploy also negates the very principles and objectives behind the establishment of this Central University in 1994," he said.

The acting vice-chancellor of Assam University, Ranju Rani Dhamala, told The Telegraph today that the university followed the rules and regulations of the Union government.

"Assam University is a central university and we follow the rules and regulations of the government in letter and spirit. Moreover, I am an acting vice-chancellor and thus I can't take certain decision," she added.

She said making 80 per cent reservation for the students of a particular region was a policy decision. "Being an acting vice-chancellor, I am not authorised to take such decision. So, it's beyond my limit."

Asked about the validity of such a demand, Dhamala said she did not wish to make any comment in this regard.

The students' association had demanded 100 per cent reservation for the students of these five districts last year.

However, the then vice-chancellor, Somnath Dasgupta, had said before taking such decision, he would have to take the permission from the President, who is the visitor of the university.