Reservation in admission row : ATSUM(MT) sets deadline
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 17 2014:
The All Tribal Students' Union (ATSUM) led by Muan Tombing has threatened to impose blockade on National Highways in addition to clamping a ban on all national projects with effect from the midnight of August 23 in case authorities of central universities located in Manipur do not issue necessary notification for immediate implementation of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012 by August 22 .
Speaking to media persons at their Nagaram office today, ATSUM president Muan Tombing said that they would wait and watch till August 22 .
Until then, all admission processes in Manipur University should be kept suspended.
Appealing to all the transport organisations and trade unions to support the proposed agitation, Muan Tombing urged people of all the five hill districts to cooperate with the students' body.
Meanwhile, ATSUM, MUTSU and All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) have submitted a memorandum to the Union HRD Minister Smriti Jubin Irani seeking a directive for implementation of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012 in Manipur University.
Copies of the same memorandum have also been dispatched to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the UGC Secretary.
The memorandum urged the authorities concerned to direct the MU authority so that the Act is implemented from the 2014-15 academic session.
The Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of Manipur University should be terminated for keeping the Act in abeyance for the past two years.
In case these demands are not addressed, a situation marked by social unrest may erupt in Manipur, it mentioned.
The MU Registrar sent a representation to the Governor's Secretary with details and break-up figures of SC/ST/OBC and unreserved seats on July 23 after it was duly approved by the HoDs and Deans.
Further on July 24, the Assistant Registrar issued a press statement informing that seat reservation during admission in MU would be 31 per cent for ST, 2 per cent for SC and 17 per cent for OBC.
But a meeting of the Manipur University Academic Council held on August 14 overruled all the previous decisions, Muan Tombing said.