ATSUM, MUTSU issue stern warning
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 26 2016: The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) and Manipur University Tribal Students' Union (MUTSU) have warned of launching intense agitation unless the Manipur University authorities revoke two resolutions adopted in the Deans' Committee meeting of April 4, 2016 on or before April 29 .

In a joint communique, ATSUM and MUTSU said that the Deans' Committee meeting held on April 4 resolved to adopt the reservation policy in the University, ie, 7.5% for ST, 15% for SC and 27 % for OBC, as directed by UGC regarding the appointment of all groups of employees including teaching and non-teaching staff.

It also resolved that the matter of reservation in the admission to different courses in the University be referred to the Academic Council.

A general body meeting of MUTSU was convened today at 1.30 pm at the University campus wherein ATSUM decided to shoulder the line of action with regard to resolutions deliberately adopted by the MU Deans' Committee with the "mala-fide intention of depriving Scheduled Tribe's Constitutional rights," the statement said.

The Deans' Committee resolution on the clauses mentioned goes against the existing Act of Parliament and is a direct attempt to further discriminate and marginalise the tribal community in the State, it said.

It appears that Manipur University authority deliberately has taken the 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, it said.

With regards to resolution No 2 (a), it is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel & 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 25th June 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 State as per Annexure 1 of the OM has been indicated as SC � 3 %, ST � 34 % and OBC � 13 %" .

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 %, ST � 7.5 % and OBC � 27 %, it said.

With regard to admission and in reference to resolution No 2 clause (b) of Deans' 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) has given its verdict and has directed the Manipur University to admit students under the 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 and MUTSU said.

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