CHENNAI: The State Assembly on Wednesday passed a Bill granting 69 per cent reservation for weaker sections and backward classes in all private educational institutions other than those run by minorities.

The decision was taken "after careful consideration of the population in the respective categories and the present stage of their advancement in education," and would be applicable to aided, unaided and deemed universities from the date of its notification by the Government.

The provisions

According to its provisions, Backward Classes will have 30 per cent reservation; Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities 20 per cent; Scheduled Castes 18 per cent and Scheduled Tribes one per cent. "The Government has decided to bring out a legislation to make special provision for reservation of seats for Backward Classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes for admission into private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the Government other than the minority educational institutions," said the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, introduced in the House by Higher Education Minister K.Ponmudi.

Earlier, the Assembly passed Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion (Repeal) Bill, 2006. Law Minister I. Periasamy, who requested that the Bill be taken up for consideration, said it appeared as if the law had been brought in to please someone. It was against the people, especially the minorities.

Mr. Periasamy alleged that the AIADMK Government was being run through an ordinance raj. He accused former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa of duplicity. She had signed the draft of the Bill, to be introduced in the House to annul the Forcible Conversion Law, on June 21, 2004.

After Mr. Periasamy had concluded, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said the Minister did not give the complete details of the events. Ms. Jayalalithaa had signed an order on a file, put up by the Public Department. "This file relates to introduction of a Bill in the ensuing session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for replacing" the Law on Forced Conversions.

"As per the provisions of Clause 2 of Article 213 of the Constitution, an Ordinance promulgated should be replaced by an Act within six weeks of the date of the Ordinance. Hence the Law Department was requested to prepare a draft Bill. The draft Bill is placed below," he said, reading out from the file.

Mr. Karunanidhi said after she signed this, "she had a change of mind," and it was not introduced in the House. She was merely using a Supreme Court order of 1985 as a shield, he said.

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