NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Violent clashes broke out between students and police in the Indian capital on Thursday as protests flared over a government move to reserve more university seats for students from lower Hindu castes.

Police used water canon and teargas to break up scores of medical students as they marched to the Supreme Court in the heart of New Delhi.

The agitating students wanted to give a petition to the chief justice of India against the government move.

They said the court had promised them in May it would hear their views if and when the government went ahead with the controversial proposal.

The fresh protests were triggered after the Indian cabinet approved draft legislation on Monday to boost the number of university places for lower caste candidates to 49.5 per cent from 22.5 per cent.

“Don’t divide us on caste lines”, “One nation, one voice”, the protesters chanted, some wearing black bands and waving the national flag.

Junior doctors at some Delhi hospitals struck work but emergency services were not disrupted. Medical services were badly hit in many Indian cities in April and May when doctors launched protests after the government announced its plans.

Students also staged protests in Kolkata and dozens were beaten up by police.

Following the clashes, protesters blocked a main thoroughfare in the city, stopping traffic.

The lower castes account for about 77 per cent of the 1.1 billion population.

The protesters say the move to reserve seats for lower caste students does not reward merit and will reduce the chances of others to secure higher education.—Reuters