Wednesday, August 24 2005 17:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today (August 24, 2005) demanded that a central law be enacted to protect reservation to backward classes, most backward classes and Dalits, as enshrined under constitution.

The proposed law should incorporate the Tamil Nadu Government's Reservation Act of 1994, which porvided for 69 per cent reservation to backward, most backward classes and Dalits, she told a press conference here reacting to the recent Supreme Court order abolishing quotas and reservation in admissions to private and unaided colleges.

She said her government would be filing a review petition against the apex court order, specifically mentioning the Tamil Nadu Reservation Act, which had been included in the ninth schedule of the Constitution.

On her recent remarks that the state government would have no other option but take over the self-financing professional colleges, Jayalalithaa said this should be done only if the reservation for certain sections of the society could not be protected.

Asked whether it was possible to take over these institutions, she said: "Yes. it is possible."

On the apex court's observation that there should be a ban on capitation fee and admissions should be done in a transparent manner, she said 'How these can be enforced. For this the court should have been given powers,' she said.

She refused to comment on the remarks of Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti on the 'unwanted criticism' of its judgement.