IMPHAL, August 2: The Kangleipak Students’ Association has today announced its decision to support the Manipur University Schedule Caste Students’ Union in challenging and boycotting the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act, 2012.
The student bodies are challenging the inclusion of the clause (ia) in section 2 of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006.
The clause adds that “specific north eastern region” means the area comprising of the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and the tribal areas of Assam referred to in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
Speaking at a press conference held at the KSA office, convenor Th Premananda said KSA will strongly boycott the inclusion of Manipur as a tribal State in the amendment.
This inclusion will change the allocation of admission seat reservation in Central Universities in the State, he said.
The allocation of seat reservation in a Central University is 50 percent for general, 15 percent for schedule caste, 27.5 percent for other backward classes and 7.5 percent for schedule tribes, whereas in the case of a tribal State, the allocation is 50 percent for general, 2 percent for schedule caste, 17 percent for other backward classes and 31 percent for schedule tribes, he said.
This new norm had been noticed only this year during the recent hassle over admission in the university, he said complaining that the university authorities had maintained silence over such a sensitive issue.
The amendment was however passed in 2012, he added.
He further appealed to the State government and the Members of Parliament from the State to look into the matter and demand revocation of the amendment at the earliest to maintain a smooth educational environment in the State.
The student body leader further said that the KSA will submit a memorandum to the higher authorities soon.
It may be mentioned that the Manipur University Schedule Caste Students’ Union had challenged Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act, 2012, yesterday.
Spokesperson of the union Y Rajeev had during a press conference on the issue demanded revocation of the Act and condemned the university authorities for remaining silent.
