Friday, April 7 2006 17:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: As a government's proposal to introduce reservation in Central educational institutions and IITs and IIMs has kicked up a row, HRD Minister Arjun Singh today (Apr 07, 2006) said it was being whipped up.

"Some people are trying to whip up the issue. I know that," he said without taking any names.

Parliament had passed the Constitution amendment Bill envisaging such provisions (hiking reservation and implementing it in central institutions) with near unanimity after due deliberations with political parties. The President also gave his assent to the measure.

"This is the essence of it", he said justifying the proposal which is before the Union Cabinet.

'May be', he told sources tersely when asked about the resentment among sections of students over the proposal which would drastically reduce the seats available for the general category in such institutions.

The Government is likely to take a decision on the issue after the coming Assembly elections.

Already some academics have criticised the proposal based on the Mandal formula providing 27 per cent quota for OBCs in Central educational institutions and the IIMs and IITs.

Reignite the merit vs quota debate

The proposal is expected to reignite the merit vs quota debate in the country with academics and students expressing resentment over the move.

If implemented, the new policy would take the overall reservation in the Central government-funded higher education institutions to 49.5 per cent from the current 22.5 (for SC and ST students).

The government's move follows the passage of the 104th amendment to the Constitution which enables the Centre to provide upto 27 per cent reservation and the States according to their need.

The Centre has already directed state governments to increase reservation for backward categories in the state-level institutions.

Singh had already written to the states to frame laws in the light of 104th Constitution Amendment, passed in the winter session of Parliament, which gives them the right to take steps that would ensure advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, SCs and STs in private educational institutions as well.

Top IIT and IIM officials said they would debate and take decisions on the basis of the directives of the Centre with regard to 27 per cent reservation of seats for backward classes in the premier institutions.

"It may be increase (in the number) of seats or some modalities which the government directive will be bringing to us. We will be debating and taking decisions on the basis of those directives", Registrar of IIT, Delhi, Rajendra Singh said.

Bakul Dholakia, Director of IIM Ahmedabad, said "we had approved a broad framework of proposals about greater autonomy and accountability that IIM-A should particularly have.