Ahead of the final cabinet meeting before the announcement of poll dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has to take a stand; whether to issue an ordinance to overturn January 22 Supreme Court order. According to media reports, the Faculty quota ordinance to impose reservation university-wise instead of by department is set to be taken up on March 6, 2019. Besides, the cabinet is also expected to approve an additional allocation of Rs. 4,000 crore to fund implementation of the 10 per cent quota for Economically Weaker Classes in higher education institutes. Teachers in Bhopal go Bald in Protest for Equal Pay. 

Faculty Quota: Allahabad High Court Verdict 2017

On April 7, 2017, the Allahabad High Court had struck down a University Grants Commission (UGC) circular and ordered the commission to follow department-wise quota formula and not clubbed institution-wise system. Following and implementing the HC order, UGC on March, 2018 announced that the number of reserved faculty posts across universities and colleges would be revised and fixed as per the HC order. It will not be based on the aggregate vacant positions in the institution but department-wise. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s Story Will Now Be Part of School Syllabus in Rajasthan. 

After the official notification was circulated, the nation witnessed unrest among the scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward classes. The centre in April, 2018 rushed to the apex court with a special leave petition (SLP) against the HC order. In January, 2019, the SC rejected the government’s plea and supported the Allahabad HC order.

After the SC’s decision, the centre faced serious heat and protest. Hiring exercise to fill up thousands of posts in universities and colleges were put into a halt till the matter remained sub judice. The ordinance to impose reservation university-wise instead of department, is now set to be taken on March 6.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2019 02:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).