New Delhi: The Government has deferred the tabling of the bill on reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes in private unaided colleges for the moment. A final decision will now be taken only after consultation with all political parties.
The main Opposition party, the BJP, is not opposing quota in unaided institutions. But BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that minority institutions should also reserve seats for students from Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
Since the proposed legislation is a constitution amendment bill, it requires to be passed with a two-thirds majority. In other words, the Government will be unable to get the bill through if the BJP does not cooperate.
The BJP?s backtracking on the bill on Tuesday took the UPA Government by surprise since it had made it clear on December 8 that the proposed amendment had “overwhelming political consensus” and would not include minority institutions since they already enjoy special status under the Constitution.
The bill contradicts the stand taken by the Supreme Court. The court had struck down reservation in private colleges that do not take aid from the Government.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday last approved a bill to amend the Constitution to allow a quota for SC/STs and Other Backward Classes in private unaided professional colleges.
Announcing the Cabinet decision, Parliamentary Affairs minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, said that the decision was taken keeping in mind the aspirations of the people of India.
And despite the Supreme Court ruling, the government has planned to insert a fifth clause in Article 15 of the Constitution which will empower states to frame laws for quotas in private institutions.
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