Friday, August 19 2005 12:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Centre will engage the services of senior counsel and former Attorney General K Parasaran to address in the apex court the issue of Government quota in unaided educational institutions, a PMO spokesman said yesterday (August 18, 2005).

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apprised a delegation of the SC/ST Parliamentary Forum about the Government's decision to hire the services of Parasaran to further address the issue in court in view of the Supreme Court recently scrapping Government quota in private educational institutions.

"Referring to the Supreme Court judgement on reservations in private educational institutions, Singh said the Government will protect effective equality of opportunity," Sanjaya Baru, Media Advisor to the Prime Minister told reporters after the two-hour meeting.

Singh also informed the SC/ST MPs that Union HRD Minister, Arjun Singh, has convened a conference of State Education Ministers to discuss the issues raised by the judgement.