ATSUM cites 2012 Act, slams MU authorities
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 04 2016:
Taking a grim note of the ugly stand off at Manipur University (MU), the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has stated that it is irked with the irresponsible attitude and malafide motives of MU authorities in resolving the current impasse.
In a statement issued to the press, ATSUM said that MU has defied the order of the High Court of Manipur and the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in admission) Amendment Act, 2012 which was enacted and passed by the Indian Parliament.
After MU was converted to a Central University and the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in admission) Act, 2006 was enacted, the reservation quantum fixed for ST, SC and OBC respectively was 7.5 pc, 15 pc and 27 pc from the academic session 2008-2009 and this was followed till 2013-14, said ATSUM.
Considering the huge disparity between the tribal population, which is 40 to 42 pc, and the allotted reservation in MU, the said Act was amended as the Central Education Institutions (Reservation in admission) Amendment Act, 2012 (Number 31 of 2012) .
However MU authorities concealed it for two academic sessions (2012-13 to 2013-14), alleged ATSUM and added that it was only implemented from the academic session 2014-15 after the intervention of the High Court of Manipur vide its order on September 3, 2014 with a reservation quantum of 31 pc for ST, 2 pc for SC and 27 pc for OBC.
However the academic atmosphere of MU and adherence to the Amendment Act of 2012 was diluted when some self serving individuals tried to defy the Parliamentary Act resulting in unnecessary unrest in the varsity, said ATSUM.
On the other hand MU authorities, despite knowing the order of the High Court of Manipur and the Amendment of 2012, have protracted the issue despite a series of meetings of the Deans' Committee and Academic Council, said ATSUM.
Going back to the recent past, ATSUM said four Professors of MU met UGC officials to discuss the reservation policy in admission to various courses in MU on September 12 this year to resolve the deadlock.
The university team apprised the UGC letter of March 23, 2016 and it was clarified by the UGC authorities that this was a general letter sent to all the 40 Central universities and explained that the reservation policy for admission was provided by the UGC vide its letter dated June 3, 2016, said ATSUM and added that the MU team was directed to follow the instructions of the June 3, 2016 letter.
When ATSUM representatives met the Secretaries of the HRD Ministry and UGC on September 12, 2016 to resolve the issue, the ATSUM team was told that no new reservation policy can be formulated by HRD/UGC/any university in contrast to the Parliament Act, added the statement.
Therefore MU should follow the reservation policy of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in admission) Amendment Act, 2102, added ATSUM.
Despite the Amendment of 2012, MU authorities, instigated by a few self interested individuals, have deliberately kept the matter on the boil threatening the academic career of the students, alleged ATSUM.
If the SC community feels they are neglected by the law makers then they should initiate the process for amending the last Parliamentary Act of 2012, said ATSUM.
The student body also strongly condemned the arson at MU yesterday.
Comment
