Federation for People’s Rights (FPR), Puducherry, Secretary, G. Sugumaran sent a memorandum on 03.07.2012 to the Lt. Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Secretary (Higher Education) of Puducherry:
The Regional Reservation was brought into force by the Government of Puducherry on 10.8.2006, by which reservation have been made to the tune of 18%, 4% and 3% to students of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions, in all the professional courses like Medical and Engineering in all the institutes of higher education under the Government. Subsequently on 21.5.2010 another G.O has been issued reserving the rest of the 75% seats to the students of Puducherry region.
All the political parties and the social organizations have raised their concern against this regional reservation and raised fears that it would lead to social disharmony by creating a division amongst the people of Puducherry State. They also feared that this unconstitutional practice would be against the Supreme Court Judgment pronounced following Mandal Commission recommendations in Indira Sahany’s Case.
A case has been filed by Federation of Puducherry Parents – Students Affected by Regionwise Reservation vide Writ Petition No. 13130 of 2010 against the regional reservation. The First bench comprising of Justices Mr. M.Y. Iqbal and Mr. T.S. Sivagnanam has dismissed the 75% reservation made to Puducherry region and upheld the Regional Reservation made to other regions on 6.8.2010. The SLP filed in the Supreme Court has also been dismissed at the admission stage itself.
Under these circumstances, all the political parties and the social organizations have seriously engaged in protesting against the Regional Reservation, as it affects the interest of the students of Puducherry. The Government of Puducherry would be liable for contempt if any attempt has been made to withdraw the regional reservation.
Hence, it would be appropriate and acceptable to all concerned, if a High Level Committee have been constituted, comprising of MLAs, academicians and social activists who possess thorough knowledge on this issue, to review the Regional Reservation and submit its recommendations based on the feedback of the people’s representatives.
Based on the recommendations of this committee, suitable legislation shall be passed by the legislature either for eliminating the Regional Reservation and make suitable modification and implement the Act with the assent of the Lt. Governor and the President of India, since Puducherry is a union territory.
As the counseling of Medical and Engineering courses are scheduled to commence by 9.7.2012, the Lt. Governor and the Chief Minister of Puducherry shall take steps on war footings and shall ensure for the protection of the rights of students of Puducherry region.
On behalf of FPR, we earnestly request to take steps to withdraw the Regional Reservation by enacting suitable legislations and implement the same by getting the assent of the President of India.
Leave a Reply