Stand off at MU over reservation row; DESAM petitions President of India
Ratan Kumar urges Union HRD Minister to resolve impasse at MU
Source: The Sangai Express / MIC

New Delhi/Imphal, October 12 2016: Education Minister Dr Kh Ratan Kumar today urged Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar to find an immediate solution to the present crisis in Manipur University which is under the purview of the Central Government so that a conducive atmosphere can be created for students to pursue their academic activities freely without any disturbance.

Dr Ratan Kumar met the Union Minister in his office chamber at Shastri Bhavan here this evening at 5.30 .

The State Education Minister also asked him to appoint a regular Vice Chancellor of Manipur University immediately.

The Union Minister responded that he would look into the matter within a week.

During the meeting Dr Ratan Kumar also submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister highlighting the prevailing situation at Manipur University.

In the memorandum, the Education Minister said that following the decision of the Academic Council of the University to follow the reservation norms of 2006 in admission strong protests have erupted from the tribal students of the university.

Dr Ratan pointed out that following the decision of the Academic Council of MU, a tribal student body has threatened to call a blockade in the State if the decision of the Academic Council is not revoked within four days.

Further, Manipur University Tribal Students Union (MUTSU) has asked the tribal students not to write any assignment, test or class related activities until the university implements the Central Educational Institutions Reservation in Admission Amendment Act, 2012, said Ratan Kumar.

Even though Manipur University is a Central University, the current situation in the university might affect the law and order situation in the State, said the State Education Minister.

The overall situation is such that education of the young students has been compromised and classes are yet to start at Manipur University, added Ratan Kumar.

On the other hand alleging that adopting the reservation norms of 2006 (SC-15 pc, ST-7.5 pc and OBC-27 pc), as decided by the Academic Council of Manipur University on October 8 is arbitrary and illegal, the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur has submitted a memorandum to the President of India 'expecting urgent action from his end' .

Notably the President is the Visitor to MU.

Copies of the memorandum have also been submitted to the Union HRD Minister, UGC Chairman and Governor of Manipur.

Dubbing the resolution of the Academic Council of MU as arbitrary and illegal, DESAM in the memorandum said that the Central Educational Institutions (CEI) (Reservation in admission) Act, 2006 was amended in 2012 and as per the amendment, the reservation policy applicable in MU should be SC-2 pc, ST-31 and OBC-17 pc.

The CEI Amendment of 2012 has been in operation in MU for the last two academic sessions, said DESAM and added that this was in accordance with the directive from the UGC on October 5, 2012 .

Reverting to the 2006 reservation policy as decided by the Academic Council of MU is not only unwarranted but is also a serious breach of the directive from the UGC, said DESAM.

This was also in violation of the directive of the High Court of Manipur which issued an order on September 1, 2015 and again reiterated it on October 3 this year, claimed DESAM.

The UGC had also reminded all CEIs including Manipur University that the reservation policy to be followed should be the amended Act of 2012, added the student body.

The stand of the UGC was also made known to a 4 member team of MU which visited the UGC authority on September 12 this year, said DESAM and added that this is also recorded in the minutes of the meeting between the MU team and UGC led by its Chairman on the day.

The adoption of the reservation Of 15 pc for SC, 7.5 pc for ST and 27 pc for OBC is also in violation of the order passed by the High Court of Manipur which ruled that the percentages of reservation for STs, SCs, and OBCs shall be 31 pc, 2 pc and 17 pc respectively for admission to various courses in MU, added the student body.

The decision of the Academic Council of MU is also in violation of the letter sent by the Chancellor (Prof DM Nachane) of MU who stated that the reservation policy should be in line with the 2012 Amendment.

Stating that denying the entitled reservation share of STs in admission will a serious deprivation of the rights of STs in Manipur, DESAM said that as per the 2011 Census, the population of ST in Manipur was 43 pc of the population of the State while the SCs constituted 3.8 pc.

The denial of the entitled reservation share of 31 pc to the ST students will further increase the gap between the hill and valley people, said DESAM and added that this is likely to cause social tension between the hills and the valley.

The student body urged the President to intervene and take necessary steps to ensure that the rights of the ST students are not robbed.

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