HC to review quota in engg admissions

The engineering rules are being looked into in the wake of a petition filed by a Special Backward Class candidate, Priti Prakash Koli, seeking two per cent reservation in medical courses. The petition challenged “discrimination between students belonging to the same category applying for different courses.” Fearing dismissal of her prayer for a medical seat, Koli pleaded to withdraw the petition and mentioned she would now apply for the engineering course where such reservation is allowed. But the division bench of Justice A V Sawant and J J Patil refused permission, and stated the rules permitting reservation in engineering courses will be scrutinised instead. As per state government resolution dated December 7, 1994, certain backward communities (like Kolis, Govaris, Manas, Halbas, Devangs and Munnurs) which were excluded from the list of Scheduled Caste, Other Backward Classes list, will be included in the Special Backward Class. A circular passed by the Medical Education and Drugs department on June 21, 1995, made two per cent reservation applicable to medical education and equivalent courses. This was challenged by a writ petition filed in 1995 by an open merit candidate, stating that such a Special Backward Class exceeded the permitted fifty per cent quota.

The matter is still in court. But pending final hearing, a government resolution staying two per cent reservation for Special Backward Class was passed on December 22, 1995. As the petition dealt solely with medical admissions, the reservation in engineering admissions remained untouched.

The present petition was filed by Priti Koli’s father, Prakash Rukma Koli. Priti, who belongs to the Koli caste (formerly placed under OBC but now recognised as Special Backward Class), passed the Standard XII examination conducted by the HSC Board, Mumbai Division securing 77.67 per cent with 81.33 per cent marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.