Ignoring
reservation policy not less than a conspiracy against the weaker section
Himachal
Pradesh is abode of 25 per cent schedule castes, five percent schedule tribe,
more than 15 per cent OBCs and disabled population is 2.25 per cent among the
total population i.e. 68 Lakh. In Continuity to the provisions enshrined in our
constitution there are mammoth machinery at the centre and in the state to
cater the interests of these marginal groups more so the whole state ministry
is in existence in HP too.
There
are many organisations in the state claiming to be the vanguard of these
depressed communities naming as morchas,
manch and claiming them self de facto fighter apart from of political
parties. However the university which is
known as den of scholars and visionary peoples, the Himachal Pradesh University
have ignored the reservation policy while advertising 224 seats for the
admission to Ph.D in different subjects.
It
is pertinent here the University Grant Commission is the apex body to regulations on minimum standards of
education and its notification appeared in the Gazette of India on the month of
May, 2016 its clause 5.2.3 clearly envisages that adhere to the National/state
reservation policy, as applicable. In the light of UGC above notification
university is bound to follow the state reservation policy at the time of
admission in 224 Ph.D. seats.
The state government in Himachal Pradesh is
giving reservation in different way e.g. in government services for class I
& II for SC’s 15 per cent, ST’s 5 per cent, OBC’s 12 per cent and for PwD
it is 3 per cent, for class-III & IV there is 22 per cent for SC’s, 7.5 per
cent for ST’s, 18 per cent for OBC’s and 3 per cent for disabled.
In the light of above state reservation Policy
University has to follow the same pattern while granting admission not only in
to M.Phil & Ph.D courses but for other post-graduate and graduate courses
as well.
In the university the office of the dean of
studies is empowered to conduct all entrance, other semester and annual examinations
free and transparent manner by considering university’s and UGC’s regulations
and various government rules. While talking about the transparency it is the
paramount duty of the two offices, the office of Dean of Studies and Controller
of Examination to ensure transparency as well as secrecy.
It is again evident the Himachal Pradesh
University campus is highly volatile with respect to the students politics and
many teaching personal are directly office bearer to students’ as well as
party’s mass organisations. In that situation it is suggested to these
responsible offices to set the question papers from experts of other university
or the institution instead of same department of the university.
There are various Acts being enacted by the
parliament such as SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act, 1989 to ensure the
rights of the concerned communities and prevent atrocities on them. Therefore
ignoring the important reservation policy in the light of clear cut
notification by the university grant commission may be viewed not less than
conspiracy against the SC’’s, ST’s and OBC’s and may be covered under these
Acts as such. The act of ignoring the reservation policy is a just mistake for
the perpetrators but for aggrieved it is future and the sole responsibility is
of the state to protect the fundamental right of an individual and upholds the
rule of law.
