Section 7 of The Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985
- (1)The University shall be open to persons of either sex and of whatever race, creed, caste or class, and it shall not be lawful for the University to adopt or impose on any person any test whatsoever of religious belief or profession in order to entitle him to be appointed as a teacher of the University or to hold any other office therein or admitted as a student in the University, or to graduate thereat, or to enjoy or exercise any privilege thereof.
- (2)Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to prevent the University from making any special provision for the appointment or admission of women or of persons belonging to the weaker sections of the society, and in particular, of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
Summary
- The University must be open to every person regardless of their gender, race, creed, caste, or social class.
- It is illegal for the University to require any student or teacher to pass a test regarding their religious beliefs or profession.
- No person can be denied the right to graduate or enjoy University privileges based on their background or religion.
- The University has the power to create special rules to help women get admitted or appointed to positions.
- Special provisions can also be made for people from weaker sections of society, specifically those in Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Can the University refuse to admit a student because they belong to a specific social class?
No, the law states the University must be open to all persons of whatever class.
2. Is the University allowed to have different admission rules for women?
Yes, the University can make special provisions for the admission of women to support their education.
3. Can a religious test be required for someone to hold an office in the University?
No, it is not lawful for the University to impose any religious test for holding any office.
4. Does the law mention specific groups that can receive extra support?
Yes, it specifically mentions women and people from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 7 of The Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985, which of the following actions by the University would be illegal?
Q2.How does Section 7 of The Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985, handle the concept of social equity for weaker sections?
Q3.According to Section 7 of The Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985, which of these is NOT a protected category for University access?
Q4.Under Section 7 of The Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985, what is the University forbidden from doing regarding graduation?