Wednesday, August 17 2005 16:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Observing that the recent Supreme Court verdict relating to reservation policy in unaided educational institutions 'impinges on social rights', Government today (Aug 17, 2005) asserted in Lok Sabha that it was committed to the policy of reservation.

Responding to a calling attention motion moved by A Krishnaswamy, Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam (DMK), Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh agreed to former Union Minister Nitish Kumar's suggestion to convene a meeting of leaders of political parties to discuss the issue before the end of the current session of Parliament.

In its judgement on August 12 this year, the Apex court had held that in case of unaided professional educational institutions, minority or non-minority, the state has no authority of reservation of quota of state seats or enforcing reservation policy on the ground that this constituted a serious encroachment on the right and autonomy of private professional educational institutions.

The court had also ruled that unaided institutions could have their own admission system based on merit.

Singh said "The Supreme Court has delivered a judgement which, in many ways, impinges on social rights".

Observing that the country was one on the issue of protecting the interests of backward classes, he said "I want to categorically state that Government is committed to the policy of reservation".

Singh said he has written to Chief Ministers and convened a meeting of state ministers in charge of professional education in Delhi on August 27 to evolve a national approach after discussing implications of the Supreme Court ruling.

Describing the judgement as 'untenable', members, cutting across party lines, asked the Government to evolve a comprehensive legislation which retained the reservation quota system for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes and minorities.

There has been a rare unanimity in the House

Singh said there has been a 'rare unanimity' in the House on the issue.

Noting that the SC judgement will not come into force till the next academic year, Singh said "We have time to deliberate and legislate".

He said based on the deliberations at a two-day meeting of State ministers of higher and technical education at Bangalore in January this year, draft legislation had been prepared which addressed concerns of MPs with regard to the provision for Government reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs.

"The judgement has come at a stage when the implementation of this legislation has been disturbed. But our objective remains the same," he said.

He assured the members that much before the next academic session, "We will make up our mind". Government, he said, would take all steps to strengthen social order and fulfil aspirations of the weaker sections.

Emphasising that reacting with anger and pain to the court verdict would look improper, he said "This Government wants to respect the feelings of members and will act accordingly".

Singh said, "It is important that we try and understand the implications of the judgement and evolve a national approach to this important issue. This approach must address national, social and constitutional imperatives in a holistic manner."

"We do hope that we will be able to come to a common understanding on this issue," he said.

Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal contended that if reservation for such sections was abolished, it would affect them adversely.

Nitish Kumar said there should be an all party meeting

Nitish Kumar, Janata Dal (JD) United (U), said there should be an all-party meeting to discuss implications of the court verdict.

Singh said he would convene a meeting of leaders of all political parties before the House adjourns at the end of this session and take their suggestions directly.

Krishnaswamy demanded that a comprehensive legislation be brought forward which should ensure that reservation quota in self-financing higher educational institutions was kept intact.

K Subbarayan, Communist Party of India (CPI), said suitable amendments to the law should be brought to ensure social justice.

M Ramadass, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), said the court verdict had created an 'explosive' situation. He said private unaided institutions had social responsibilities in helping poor students.

S K Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), contended that since there was reservation in jobs, there should be reservation for such sections in educational institutions.