ATSUM rolls up sleeves for second phase of stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 05 2016: With the completion of the first phase of agitation demanding the revocation of two resolutions adopted by MU Deans' Committee, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) today said that the second phase of agitation will be launched at sporadic places outside the MU Campus under the aegis of ATSUM encompassing all the pending charter of demands.

In a statement, ATSUM said that the time and course of agitation will be discussed in an emergency consultative meeting and an announcement will be made in the public domain in due course of time.

Refuting the alleged misleading statement of MU authority in the May 4 edition of this paper, ATSUM said that UGC norms cannot override the existing Act of Parliament ie Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admissions) Amendment Act, 2012 No 31 of 2012, dated June 19, 2012 and also the Office Memorandum of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training No 36017/1/2004 �Esst (Res) Dated July 5, 2005 which stated that reservation for State of Manipur should be 3 pc for Scheduled Caste, 34 pc for ST and 13 pc for OBC.

Further this OM order stated that it will take immediate effect from the date of issue.

"We are not questioning the percentage of reservation policy but only demanding the exception to the norms enacted by Parliament.

The Deans' Committee Meeting Resolution of April 4, 2016 is a reversal to the existing Act of Parliament and is a direct attempt to further discriminate and marginalise the tribal community in the State of Manipur," it said.

It appears that Manipur University authority deliberately has taken advantage of the routine reminder of the UGC to Central Universities and has acted in haste to deny the Constitutional rights of the tribal community in Manipur.

It is to be noted here that the UGC's letter No 21- 2/2015(CU) dated March 23, 2016 (on which basis the April 4 Deans' meeting was held) is related to financial matter and not for changing the reservation policy existing in the State of Manipur.

It was not a specific directive issued by the UGC but one of the routine reminders to Central Universities for not implementing and fulfilling reservation norms in accordance with Constitutional provisions and Acts.

With regards to resolution No 2 (a), it is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training in its Compendium on reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in Services vide letter No DOPT OM No 35011/6/2010- Estt (Res) dated June 25, 2010 under Para 2 (reservation in direct Recruitment ) clause (c) clearly states "Except in Delhi, reservation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes in case of direct recruitment to Group C and D posts normally attracting candidates from a locality or a region is generally fixed on the basis of the proportion of population in the respective States or UTs." As such, quantum of reservation fixed for SCs, STs and OBCs for Manipur as per Annexure 1 of the OM has been indicated as SC � 3 pc, ST � 34 pc and OBC � 13 pc.

This OM was served to all Ministries/Departments of the Govt of India including the Ministry of Human Resource Development under which the UGC functions.

However, defying the order of the Union Ministry, the MU authority fixed the reservation quantum for group C and D at its own whims and wishes as SC � 15 pc, ST � 7.5 pc and OBC � 27 pc.

With regard to admission and in reference to resolution No 2 clause (b) of Deans' Committee meeting, it is pertinent to mention here that the High Court of Manipur in its ruling on PIL No 18 of 2014 (Sept 3, 2014) had given its verdict and directed Manipur University to admit the students in terms of the Act "The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act, 2012" as per the distribution of seats prepared by Manipur University.

As such, Manipur University has been implementing the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act, 2012 with effect from the academic session 2014-15.Therefore, the decision to refer the matter on reservation in admission to different courses in the university to the Academic Council is made with mala- fide intention to alter the existing reservation policy in the State of Manipur, ATSUM said.

The Union also condemned the 'ulterior motive' of MU authority in abrogating the resolution adopted with the representatives of MUTSU on May 3, 2016 wherein it was agreed that MHRD/UGC be formally approached requesting to clarify the official position concerning the reservation of SC, ST and OBC in the appointment of Group C posts in Manipur University.

As however, MU Authority had written only to UGC- a commission that functions under the directive of Ministry of HRD.

"This reflects the evil design of the dominant Meitei committee," ATSUM asserted.

Taking into consideration the population of the tribal which constitutes nearly 42 pc of the total population of Manipur as per the latest census, the State Govt is expected to amend the existing Manipur State reservation policy which is fixed at 31 pc for ST, it added.

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