Reservation policy misinterpreted : ATSUM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 02 2016:
Taking serious note of the reported of Manipur University Students' Union's (MUSU) circulation dated July 22, 2016 asking all the Heads of Departments of Manipur University to stop immediate admission processes in the varsity, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) said it feels constrained to dispel certain doubts arising out of the wrong interpretation of reservation policy in admission in all courses as per the provisions contained in the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 and Amendment Act, 2012 .
ATSUM general secretary Vareiyo Shatshang said today that the allegation levelled against Manipur University (MU) authority is biased and is a complete mistake in calculation and interpretation of the Amendment Act, 2012 .
The claims raised by giving three points do not correspond to the Amendment Act, 2012 and the question of being misinterpreted shows complete lack of mastery over the subject because section 2 clause of the Central Educational Institution clearly states that " Specified North Eastern region" means the area comprising the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim and tribal areas of Assam referred to in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution." the union said.
It said the Amendment Act of 2012 neither mentions that Manipur is under 6th Schedule nor that Manipur University is located in tribal areas.
The Amendment simply states North Eastern region encompassing Tripura and tribal areas.
Thirdly, there is no State seat reserved in Manipur University.
"Whereas, the issue of reservation policy being a bone of contention between the ST and SC/OBC, the matter was tabled during the official discourse with Government of Manipur on June 16, 2016, at the CM's official residence and in continuation of the talk, a three-member delegation of ATSUM met the Vice-Chancellor of MU and Heads of Central Institutions at the Chief Secretary's chamber with the keen initiation of the Commissioner, DP & Health on June 20, 2016 .
"In reference to the latest circular of UGC, Ministry of Human Resource Development (Govt of India) vide F.No.59.6/2012 (CU) June, 3 2016, it was officially agreed to follow Amendment Act of 2012 (Admission) which stipulates 31% reservation for ST," it added.
Further, the VC assured the delegation of ATSUM that implementation of reservation policy in the admission will be strictly adhered to as per the UGC letter No..F59-6/2012 (CU) dated June 3, 2016 for the 31 % reservation in admission, the ATSUM statement said.
As such, stopping admission processes at the time of admission has created communal disharmony amongst the students' community, the union said, adding the MU being a university of all communities, the binding force of unity should not be discarded at the fancy and whims of those who sow the seeds of hatred and disharmony.
"The ATSUM which is working for all tribal ethnic groups for the well being of the State is perturbed by occurrence of reservation issue at regular intervals and therefore requests leaders of the prestigious MUSU to shy away from such 'manipulation and exploitive interpretation' of a Parliament Act," the statement added.