Bill for OBC quota in govt institutions passed

The controversial bill for reservations for backward classes in elite government-aided educational institutions like IITs and IIMs was passed by the Lok Sabha today with the government promising a similar law to cover un-aided institutions.

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Bill, 2006, which provides for 27% reservation to OBCs, was passed by a voice vote after amendments moved by the opposition BJP for including minority institutions in its purview were rejected.

The bill had evoked stiff opposition from students of professional colleges  in cities like Delhi, who said the introduction of quotas in elite institutions would affect merit.

The legislation was vetted by a Parliamentary standing committee which suggested preference being given to the poor among the OBCs over the creamy layer.

But, the Union Cabinet rejected the committee's recommendation and brought forward the original bill that was passed today.

Replying to a day-long debate on the bill, HRD Minister Arjun Singh dismissed opposition fears that excluding minority institutions would affect admission of SC, ST and OBC students in such institutions which have been enrolling them for several years.

He said the government was preparing a new bill for unaided institutions and "very soon it will come to the House".