Tribal students stage rally against decision of Academic Council
MU ATSUM lays points bare before Chief Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 13 2016: Hundreds of tribal students staged a protest rally today against the decision of the Academic Council of Manipur University to adopt the  Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in admission) Act, 2006 bypassing the  Central Educa- tional Institutions (Reservation in admission) Amend- ment Act, 2012 and marched to Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum to Governor Najma Heptulla.

The CEI Act of 2006 pegs the reservation quota of ST students at 7.5 pc while the 2012 Amendment Act puts the reservation quota of ST students at 31 pc.

Tribal students under the aegis of ATSUM, ANSAM , KSO and MUTSU and others gathered at Adimjati Shiksha Ashram and then later marched up to Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum to the Governor.

The students marched up to the traffic point at North AOC but were turned towards DM College campus by a strong police posse.

Some representatives of the students were however allowed to proceed up to the Raj Bhawan.

Since the Governor was out of station, the students submitted the memorandum to her office instead.

On the other hand, the agitating students met Chief Minister O Ibobi at his office chamber today evening and discussed the situation, said a well placed source.

Listening to the grievances of the tribal students, the Chief Minister explained that since MU is a Central varsity, the State Government cannot intervene in the matter.

However Education Minister of Manipur, Dr Kh Ratan Kumar is presently at Delhi lobbying with the HRD Ministry to settle the issue as soon as possible, conveyed the Chief Minister to the tribal students.

During the meeting, ATSUM president Joseph Hmar made it clear that the principal Central Education Institution (Reservation in admission) Act, 2006 was amended in 2012, conveyed the source.

However the Academic Council of MU decided to adopt the CEI Act of 2006, said Joseph Hmar and added that this was in violation of the norms under the University Grants Commission.

Moreover the verdict of the Manipur High Court has been set aside, said the student leader and added that it is in protest against this that different modes of agitation have been lined up.

Presently all tribal students of MU have left the campus, under the instructions of Manipur University Students’ Union (MUTSU), said Joseph Hmar and added that this is all due to the decision of the Academic Council of MU.

Joseph Hmar further informed the Chief Minister that if the CEI (Reservation in admission) Amendment Act of 2012 is not followed the situation will get worse.

All these points have been mentioned in the memorandum too.

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