New Delhi, August 19
The Centre has convened an all-party meeting on August 23 to evolve a consensus on Supreme Court’s judgment abolishing government quotas in private unaided colleges. The apex court’s order has met with strong opposition
from across the political spectrum and had also figured in Parliament this week.
Announcing this here today, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, however, denied any confrontation with the judiciary on this issue. He said the Centre wanted to proceed in the matters per the views expressed in Parliament. “We cannot overlook national concerns,” Mr Arjun Singh told mediapersons.
Responding to queries, the minister maintained that the Centre would not place any proposals at the meeting and the draft legislation on the admission and the free structure of private unaided colleges would be the reference point for the deliberations.
Members across party lines have petitioned the government to overturn the Supreme Court
judgment.
Mr Arjun Singh has also convened a meeting of state ministers, in charge of professional education, on August 27 to elicit their views on the court ruling. The government has already indicated plans for a fresh legislation for reservation in the unaided private professional colleges before the next academic year when the apex court verdict is to be implemented.
