Tuesday, August 22 2006 12:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet yesterday (Aug 21, 2006) night approved a Constitution amendment bill providing for reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward castes in government-aided elite educational institutions, including IITs and IIMs, during the current session of Parliament.

Information and Broadcasting Minsiter P.R Dasmunsi refused to divulge the details of the legislation claiming privilege of the House but said the bill will be brought by August 25, the last day of the monsoon session.

It is understood that the Government has not for the moment taken up the proposal for implementing reservation in unaided educational institutions. The proposed reservation in the first phase is also expected to cover central institutions like NITs and central universities.

Yesterday's decision taken at a two-hour special meeting of the cabinet implies that the reservation proposal would be implemented in a phased manner and not in one go as demanded by parties like DMK and PMK, key UPA constituents, and strong votaries of reservation.

Details of the quantum of reservation were not spelt out but it is believed that it could be up to 27 percent for OBCs and combined with the quota for SC and ST.

The cabinet decision today caps a bitter controversy triggered six months ago by HRD Minister Arjun Singh'sstatement on reservation in these institutions that sparked agitation by medicos in the capital and elsewhere.

The proposal could not be implemented then because of the impending assembly elections and the agitation. The Government set up an Oversight Committee to prepare the roadmap for implementation of the reservation proposal.

Yesterday's decision marks a new phase in affirmative actions for backward castes and SC and ST after the implementation of the Mandal Commission report for job reservation in early 1990s.

The committee headed by Veerappa Moily has already given an interim report and is expected to submit its final report on August 31.