Reservation row in Manipur University continues to simmer ; ST students resolve to stay away from MU
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 23 2016: Taking strong exception to the declaration of the MU VC in-charge that the reservation norms chosen by the Academic Council meeting on October 8 would be followed in Manipur University for the academic session 2016-17, ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO and MUTSU have asked all ST students not to seek admission in MU.

Speaking to media persons at their Nagaram office today, ATSUM president Joseph R Hmar said that no ST student should think of studying in MU until the demand for enforcement of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012 is fulfilled.

Notably, almost all the ST students of MU left the university campus over the reservation issue a couple of weeks back.

Reservation row in Manipur University continues

If any ST student is found seeking admission or studying in MU, they should be held accountable for any untoward incident resulting thereof, Joseph R Hmar said.

Decrying the hasty decision adopted by newly appointed VC in-charge Prof Amar Yumnam, Joseph remarked that the Professor's decision lacked intelligent judgement.

Asserting that they cannot accept Prof Amar Yumnam as the top administrator of MU, Joseph asked Prof Amar Yumnam to step down from his post.

Now a strong suspicion has been raised whether the whole issue over reservation in MU was created by some elements as a part of their strategy to grab the post of VC, he said.

From the very beginning, MU authority has been defying established laws with regard to admission.

The MU authority has been listening to neither the Chancellor nor the Governor nor the HRD Secretary nor the UGC Secretary.

Even the Court order was overlooked, Joseph R Hmar said.

ANSAM president Seth Shatshang said that after the Academic Council meeting of October 8, another meeting was held on October 11.As agreed at the second meeting, the reservation issue in MU was referred to the Visitor (President of India) .

Even as the Visitor's response is awaited, the VC in-charge arbitrarily decided to follow the decision adopted at the Academic Council meeting of October 8 .

The VC in-charge is answerable to some questions like why he is not complying with the Act passed by Parliament and why he is not listening to the UGC's advice, Seth Shatshang said.

The VC in-charge should be held responsible if any untoward incident breaks out due to the reservation row, he continued.

KSO Ghqs president Paotinthang Lupheng and MUTSU president Thangtinlen were also present at the press meet.

On account of the reservation row, MU's academic atmosphere has been severely vitiated and normal classes have remained suspended.

ATSUM and other student bodies have been demanding that MU should follow CEI (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012 .

However, as decided at the Academic Council meeting of October 8, a meeting of HoDs/Deans held yesterday resolved to follow the CEI (Reservation in Admission) Act 2006 .

The VC in-charge went on to declare that the admission process would be completed by October 29 and the Registrar in-charge has issued a notification to this effect.