Imphal, March 19: The Manipur State Commission For Other Backward Classes Bill 2006 was unanimously passed by the State Assembly on the last day of the session.

Taking part in the deliberations on the Bill, Dr Nimaichand Luwang observed that as per the ruling of the Supreme Court, reservations should not exceed 50 percent but in Manipur 31 percent has been reserved for schedule tribes while another 2 percent has been set aside for scheduled castes totalling to 33 percent.

He noted that the Bill does not spell out the modalities under which reservation of the remaining 17 percent would be done.

Clarifying that he does not appose the proposed Bill, Nimaichand remarked that the Bill would not be able to serve its purpose.

He asserted that the Bill does not make any mention of reservation percentage for the OBCs belonging to general category and economically backward class of minority Muslims.

He further expressed desire to rectify the flaws contained in the Bill.

Expressing his support to the Bill, MLA L Ibomcha also reiterated to rectify the flaws cautioning that if the Bill is passed as such, major controversies may creep up in future.

Joining the deliberations, Chief Minister O Ibobi disclosed that the Bill is primarily aimed at providing certain advantage to minority communities particularly economically backward classes and it is not meant for safe keeping at cold storage.

Admitting that the Bill was produced late on account of some delay while seeking approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ibobi observed that the Commission has already been constituted and the Bill is produced to enable the Commission to function properly and to provide a legal safeguard for the Commission.

He opined that the SPF Government ought to be appreciated for its effort to materialise the Bill.

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