Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: An emergency meeting of All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC organizations was held today in which the Confederation demanded withdrawal of the UGC Letter which has asked universities to make rosters department/subject-wise.
The UGC in its circular dated 5-03-2018 has notified that fresh reservation rosters for SC/ST/OBC Category have to be prepared keeping department/subject as a unit instead of the University/College. The Confederation condemned this circular, stating that this development is a major setback to ensure adequate representation in teaching positions for SC/ST/OBC categories as per the constitutional requirement of 15%, 7.5% and 27%, respectively.
“Till now, the UGC had specifically prohibited the practice of making department-wise cadres, as that would lead to the denial of reservation in small departments. Thus, the UGC notification of 5-03-2018 heralds a complete U-turn in the position of the Government of India/MHRD/UGC regarding the policy of reservation and pave the way for the defeat of the constitutional mandate”, the confederation leaders said.
State president of the Confederation, RK Kalsotra in his address, condemned this circular of UGC and said that the target of social justice had not been achieved as yet and the participation of SC/ST/OBC in the mainstream society is not more than even 2% and the Union Government should intervene and direct the UGC not to take such decisions on its own. “The matter should be resolved in a manner commensurate with the constitutional commitment to Social Justice and to ensure proper representation to marginalized sections in teaching positions”, he added.
Mohd Shafi added that some forces in the society are hell bent to change the basic structure of the Constitution and cautioned the masses to be vigilant against them. He said that the Confederation has been working relentlessly for the protection of the constitutional rights of the marginalized sections of society and sought the support of masses.
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