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Provide quota for refugee students: Swamy plea in HC

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI SEPT. 23. The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the State Government on a public interest litigation plea from the Janata Party leader, Subramanian Swamy, for creating extra seats in all educational institutions and accommodating students among Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

The First Bench, comprising the Chief Justice, B. Subhashan Reddy, and Justice A. Kulasekaran, admitted the petition, which among other things, sought to create seats in arts and science and professional colleges and other institutions for refugee students ``without affecting the regular intake of Indian students and those enjoying reservation.''

Certain number of seats had been earmarked for these students in almost all educational institutions, including law colleges, polytechnics, ITIs and agriculture colleges since 1984 on ``humanitarian grounds.'' However, by a September 15 order, the State Government turned down a reservation plea made by the Chennai-based Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation for admitting five students in law colleges.

In his petition challenging the order, Dr. Swamy contended that while providing accommodation to refugees was based on social and economic factors, creation of seats for Sri Lankan refugee students was a humanitarian gesture and an international obligation.

These students had done their Plus-Two here and could not get admission in any college in Sri Lanka as the island-nation did not recognise the course offered in India.

Further, setting apart seats in educational institutions was one of the most effective ``empowerment programmes'' as it would wean away refugee youth from the cult of violence and unlawful activities.

Dr. Swamy prayed for the quashing of the impugned order, and a direction to the Government to provide seats in these educational institutions over and above the sanctioned strength to enable Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to get admission in those institutions ``as has been done since 1984.''

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