M A I N   N E W S

Reservation policy rationalised
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 14
The Punjab Government has rationalised the policy of reservation of seats in various engineering, technology and management colleges in the state for the academic session 2003-04.

This decision was taken at a meeting presided over by the Chief Secretary, Mr Y. S. Ratra, yesterday.

The Secretary Technical Education, Mr K. B. S. Sidhu, stated that the respective percentage reservation for different categories was not changed but some clarifications were issued and in case of certain categories, a rational and transparent criteria for internal gradation within the category had been approved.

In case of sportspersons, for whom 2 per cent of seats were reserved, those holding the higher grade of sports certificate would be preferred over those with the lower, irrespective of the marks in the common entrance test (CET). In case of two candidates with the same grade certificate, the winners and runners-up shall be given preference. If the tie persisted, marks in the CET shall settle the issue.

Similarly, for 2 per cent seats reserved for wards of defence personnel and ex-servicemen, priority would be accorded to children of gallantry award winners. The order of precedence as determined by the Ministry of Defence would be kept in view. Beneficiaries under a posthumous award shall be given priority. Next would come wards of those killed in action, followed by the cases of 50 per cent disability or more. The last slot would go to the serving defence personnel and ex-servicemen, on a pari passu basis.

In the 2 per cent quota of those killed in the 1984 riots, terrorist activities and Sikh migrant families etc., the cases of the death of the breadwinner and 100 per cent disability cases would be considered, first. The cases of wards of Home Guards and SPOs killed while discharging duties would also be covered under this category.

In the 2 per cent quota for the police and paramilitary personnel, the wards of President’s Medal followed by those of Police Medal, conferred by the Government of India, shall get preference. This would be followed by the case of those killed or disabled by 50 per cent or more in action (police as well as paramilitary).

The last slot would be the cases of wards of serving and retired members of the paramilitary forces. Regarding the disabled for whom 3 per cent reservation is in force, it was decided that all those classified as handicapped (i.e. disability of over 40 per cent) shall be considered on a par and the gradation effected as per the merit of the CET. Separate quotas of 1 per cent each would be in place for the blind, the deaf and dumb and other handicapped cases. The cases of freedom fighters and “Tamra Patra” holders (1 per cent reservation) shall be on a par inter se, with the CET rank clinching the tie.

Mr Sidhu said an important decision was to entertain only those certificates that had been issued till the last date of the submission of the forms for the CET to Punjab Technical University (PTU) and only those that were annexed to such forms. A declaration to this effect shall be made in the PTU’s prospectus.

It was also decided to set up a standing committee headed by the Secretary Technical Education to effect the inter se gradation of the candidates claiming reservation under the above categories. This would have the Director Technical Education as the convener, Director/Additional/Joint Secretary of the administrative department, concerned as well as a nominee of the PTU.

The quota for Scheduled Castes (25 per cent), Backward Classes (5 per cent), border and backward areas (2 per cent each) shall continue as before.

Approximately 8000 seats were likely to be available in engineering colleges in the state and these would be filled on the basis of the CET scheduled to be held on May 23.