Deemed varsities back Arjun's quota proposal

Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh today said there was consensus among deemed universities for introducing quotas in private unaided institutions.

"Everyone was of the view that there should be reservation. They also gave suggestions for implementation, which would now be discussed by a group of ministers (GoM)," Singh said after a meeting with the heads of various deemed universities.

The meeting was attended by heads of Symbiosis, Pune, BITS, Pilani, and Manipal Academy for Higher Education, among others.

The meeting discussed if quotas should be implemented in one go or in phases. The fee structure and the formula for increase in the number of seats to accommodate extra students also came up for discussion.

"All institutions cannot implement reservations in a single year due to several limitations, including shortage of teachers, resources and infrastructure," said HS Ballal, pro-chancellor, Manipal Academy for Higher Education.

"Freedom (to decide fees and seats) to a certain extent is required and we have conveyed this to the minister," Ballal added.

According to reports, the vice-chancellors of Symbiosis, BITS and the Manipal academy agreed to implement quotas but had differences on the mode of implementation.

They, however, agreed to have a variable fee structure and to reduce fees, Singh said.

The Bill for reservation in unaided and deemed universities is yet to make it to Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Centre is considering setting up of an authority under the University Grants Commission (UGC) to regulate the fees and seat structure while implementing reservations in unaided educational institutions.

"We were informed that government is considering a regulatory authority under the UGC to fix fees and seats in universities on a case-by-case basis," said a source present at today's meeting. The move was aimed at offsetting the impact of quotas, he said.

Expressing apprehension, another participant said, "The government is no mood to consider any concession or subsidy to the deemed universities while implementing reservations, which could result in increase in the number of seats."

In a meeting with the GoM last week, the chief ministers and education ministers of several states had expressed strong reservations against the plan to set up a central authority to regulate fees.