The recent shift in the criterion for appointing professors in universities, now considering caste as a factor, has sparked controversy within the academic community. The decision to implement the 13-point roster instead of the previous 200-point roster is expected to significantly impact the representation of marginalized communities in faculty appointments.

This change follows the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the 2017 Allahabad High Court ruling, which emphasized the application of reservations in teaching posts based on subject/discipline rather than the university as a whole.

The 13-point roster system takes a department as a unit and implements separate reservation policies, whereas the previous system considered the entire university as one unit. This shift has raised concerns about the equitable distribution of reserved positions and the long-term impact on the representation of SC, ST, and OBC communities.

Under the 13-point roster system, reserved positions are allocated at different intervals within a department, potentially resulting in departments with fewer faculty positions having no reserved seats. Additionally, the implementation of this system may lead to a reduction in reserved posts for SC, ST, and OBC candidates.

Many academics believe that the new roster system contradicts the purpose of reservation and may perpetuate inequality. Concerns have been raised about the lack of reserved positions in smaller departments and the potential hindrance to the career advancement of candidates from marginalized communities.

The introduction of the 13-point roster system, along with recent policies such as the 10% reservation for economically backward sections, has been criticized as election-driven tactics rather than genuine efforts to address social justice issues. The overlapping of these policies has raised questions about their effectiveness in promoting inclusive education and equal opportunities.

The academic community has been vocal in protesting against the 13-point roster system, with demonstrations taking place across the country. Teachers' unions and student organizations have called for the restoration of the 200-point reservation roster and have urged the government to address the concerns raised by the academic fraternity.

Politicians, activists, and students have joined the protests, emphasizing the importance of upholding the spirit of reservation guaranteed by the constitution. Calls have been made for the government to take concrete action, including the possibility of passing an ordinance to suspend all recruitments pending resolution of the matter.