By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net
Thiruvananthapuram: Taking note of the poor representation of teaching staff belonging to SC/ST sections in aided colleges in the state, the Kerala Government has decided to bring in a new law to ensure due quota for the candidates belonging these sections.
AK Balan, state minister for law and welfare of schedule castes
Despite orders by the Kerala High Court and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to ensure reservation in universities, deemed universities, colleges, and other grant-in-aid institutions and centres, the representation of Dalits and Adivasis remain a matter of concern.
A petition filed by a group activists in Kerala High Court last year had contended that there were only 11 teachers from SC/ST communities appointed in aided colleges. This happened at a time when a total of 7,199 teachers were working in these institutions. In educational institutions, 15% reservation has been granted to Scheduled Castes while it is 7.5% for the Scheduled Tribes.
Minister for Law and Welfare of Scheduled Castes A K Balan’s office said that the department was working on a proposal ahead of bringing in the new law. “We have to act in accordance with the court orders regarding the privileges of self financing colleges, run by the managements belonging to minority communities. There is the possibility of the minority colleges approaching the court and claiming exemption under Article 30 and 31 of the Constitution on the grounds that it infringed on minority rights. The law will be framed after addressing such issues,” the office told Twocircles.net.
The draft law will be submitted in the next assembly session and will be enacted after giving an ear to the suggestions and complaints, which are to be possibly raised from various corners.