Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 15, 2008
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/No_funds_for_quota_rollout_IITs_IIMs/articleshow/3040881.cms
Agreeing to implement OBC reservation from
this year, heads of more than 80 central educational institutions - including
IITs, IIMs and NITs - voiced concern about the problem of faculty and resources
they would face in expanding seats.
It is also clear that these institutes would
have to start implementation from their own resources, and the government
would compensate them only after the cabinet clears the extra funding to these
institutes.
After a day-long meeting with heads of CEIs
on Wednesday, HRD minister Arjun Singh said, "We know institutes have
problems of faculty and resources. We will do everything to help them. But
all of them are implementing the quota from this year." Sources said
heads of IITs and other institutes voiced maximum concern about implementation.
"They had resource-related issues like
setting up of more laboratories," said the head of an IIT. However, he
added that reservation was a national policy and would be implemented. "More
than the concern, we sought clarifications," he said. Pankaj Chandra,
director, IIM-B, said, "It was a good meeting.
There was no resistance from any institute
about implementation. All of them have started the process of OBC reservation.
HRD may move SC over Calcutta HC stay
The Calcutta HC on Wednesday stayed interviews
of candidated in IIM-Calcutta under the 27% OBC quota. The order was passed
by Justice Maharaja Sinha, who was hearing a writ petition by Sayan Guha,
a general category candidate.
Guha's counsel said while the apex court had
directed that graduates would not be considered for reservation, the HRD ministry
"violated" the order by passing an office memo on April 20 to the
effect that OBC students would get reservation in post-graduate courses.
"We would go to the Supreme Court on
Thursday and seek clarification if the apex order of April 10 does not allow
27% OBC reservation in post-graduate courses," said official sources
in HRD ministry. The Centre would also request the Supreme Court to transfer
all cases pending in high courts in Delhi and Mumbai to itself, the sources
added.
Ministry sources also said if it were not
applicable to PG courses, SC would have struck down HRD's order of April 20
asking central educational institutions to implement OBC quota in undergraduate
and PG courses. HRD minister Arjun Singh said, "We will put our views
across. It would have no effect on reservation for post-graduate classes."
On Monday, the Delhi HC issued notice to the
Centre on a petition challenging the implementation of the OBC quota in IIMs
and higher educational institutions. It sought Centre's response to the petition
filed by alumni association of IIMs within four weeks. The association said
the government had "misinterpreted" the SC judgment, while upholding
the OBC reservation policy, had said it would not be applicable to higher
educational institutions.