Set to implement OBC reservation from the coming academic session, the Delhi University proposes to put in place the 27 percent quota in three phases by increasing 18 percent seats in a year.

The University administration has already forwarded the final estimate regarding the extra infrastructure and faculty requirement for each year to the University Grants Commission in order to implement the quota.

"A high level meeting convened by the vice-chancellor has proposed to the government that Delhi University will attain the 27 percent reservation in three years," A K Dubey, registrar of the university, told PTI.

"We feel increasing 18 percent seats each year will be the best option for us in order to maintain the standard of education and satisfactory teacher-student ratio in the varsity," he said.

Dubey said the university has to increase 54 percent seats to provide 27 percent reservation to OBCs.

"In a move to ensure that the general category seats are not reduced and we provide 22.5 percent reservation to SC/STs and 27 percent reservation to OBCs, that is 49.5 percent reservation, we have to increase 54 percent seats in three years or 18 percent each year," he said.

In the academic year 2007-08, DU will issue three separate lists of seats for general, SC/ST and OBC candidates.

The University, however, feels that with the implementation of reservation, admission to some of the most sought after courses will become tougher.

"Courses like BA (restructured) and B Com, for which we receive more than half of the total application forms in DU, will see increased rush and tougher competition," Dubey said.

On the infrastructure needs to implement the increased quota, he said, most importantly, the number of teachers in the University has to be increased.

"We have informed the government that recruitment of teaching staff is a long process and we need time to complete the process," he said.