Minority quota proposal rejected

MUMBAI, April 2: Representatives from both Catholic and non-Catholic institutions have shot down the state government's proposal of a 50 per...

MUMBAI, April 2: Representatives from both Catholic and non-Catholic institutions have shot down the state government’s proposal of a 50 per cent minority quota for admitting students as per the Pre-Primary Act.

While Catholic institutions have been vociferously voicing their demand for complete freedom in admitting students till date, non-Catholic institutions too are now beginning to voice their reservations at the manner in which the government is trying to push the Act through.

School Education Minister Sudhir Joshi, education secretary Ramesh Chandra Kanade and Municipal Education Officer J M Abhayankar today met representatives from 10 schools to discuss amendment proposals to the much-contested act. These representatives have been grappling with ministers, including CM Manohar Joshi since February over their reservations with certain proposals in the act.

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`Either the government recognises our justifiable grievances or we might seek legal redressal”, said vice-president of the Unaided SchoolForum B P Sheth. “Just because students from a community get preference under a minority quota does not imply that we will ignore them if they qualify for other eligibility criteria like neighbourhood policy or sibling rights. Why should these be guided by minority status for an otherwise eligible candidate?” Sheth also criticised the neighbourhood policy, saying it would have far-reaching consequences on the culture that schools have created over the years. “Parents opt for certain type of schools, the culture of which will be totally diluted if we give the neighbourhood policy a free rein.”

Sheth, also president of the Utpal Sanghvi School, which has a contractual obligation for preferential treatment to children of residents from the Juhu-Vile Parle Development Scheme, said if the government does not give minority institutions the leverage they are demanding, they may move court.However, education minister Joshi insisted that the government was only acting as per a verdict given by the Supreme Courtin the case of St Stephen’s College, New Delhi, that ensured 50 percent minority quota for admissions.