Veerappa Moily

New Delhi: Amid hiccups over a consensus on the OBC quota, Oversight Committee Chairman Veerappa Moily has ruled out "bulldozing" of the proposal for 27 per cent reservation in elite and Central educational institutions. Protecting their excellence will be the "main theme," he said.

"There is no question of bulldozing the implementation of 54 per cent. We are clear about it... I will examine institution-wise and decide whether they can go in one-go or in phases," he told Karan Thapar's `Devil's Advocate' programme on CNN-IBN.

Holistic approach

The committee, set up to draw the roadmap for the 27 per cent OBC reservation, would take a holistic approach. He had "an open mind" on introducing the increased 54 per cent seats in a phased manner rather than in one go.

"It's an open-ended decision. I'm keeping my mind open, this side or that... some institutions may come forward and say that with the kind of proposals made by the Oversight Committee we can go at one-go. That is likely to happen. And some institutions will say it is impossible even if all the facilities are there."

Asked specifically whether the committee would allow individual institutions to decide on the implementation, Mr. Moily said, ``very true, very true."

He admitted that all five sub-groups, which recently submitted their interim reports to the committee, "have said it is not possible to implement reservationat one go. It has to be phased." The former Karnataka Chief Minister said he would not attempt to persuade the sub-groups to change their mind. He would hold extensive meetings with all institutions as well as with experts from outside to understand their reasons before the Oversight Committee took a final decision.

Experts meet

He would convene a meeting of the governing council chairmen and apex council chairmen on August 17, and invited experts from all over the country on August 28 and 29 to "ask them what the process should be."

The committee was asked to submit its final report to the Government by August 31.

Dismissing the dissent expressed by Planning Commission member Bhalchandra Mungekar and University Grants Commission Chairman Sukhdev Thorat that the question of staggering implementation was beyond the remit of the committee, Mr. Moily emphasised that protecting the excellence of educational institutions was "the main theme."

"That is their personal opinion. I don't think a personal opinion will have an overarching influence over the entire Oversight Committee. The committee consists of many people and the views of everybody will be taken into consideration. Ultimately, the main theme of not disturbing excellence will prevail on all the institutions."

Asked about excluding the OBC creamy layer from the quota regime, Mr. Moily described it as a "debatable point" and insisted that this was part of the remit of the committee.

"After all, the policy of implementation is within the jurisdiction of the Oversight Committee. So we are taking the design of implementation into this and the creamy layer is one component of the implementation process and implementation design. I think it can be taken up in the final report."

When it was pointed out that five members reportedly said that excluding the creamy layer was outside the purview of the committee, Mr. Moily ticked them off for raising the issue in public and asked them to keep an open mind.

Cut-off marks

Why was the cut-off mark for the OBCs not pegged at the same level as for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes? As a result, would a higher cut-off mark effectively undermine reservation for the OBCs.

Mr. Moily said: "OBCs are not equivalent to SC/ST... the idea is not to degrade these institutions to enable the OBC students to get in. I want the OBC students to go to institutions that have enhanced prestige. After all, that is in their interest... I don't want to compromise on excellence." — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail