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Demand to scrap G.O. on regional quota for Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam

PUDUCHERRY: With the regional reservation in admission to medical and engineering courses sparking a debate in the Union Territory, a federation formed with students and parents affected by the reservation policy has demanded scrapping of the Government Order (G.O.) on regional reservation for Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.

The Puducherry government had passed a G.O. in 2006 for regional allocation of seats to the Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions in professional courses — 18 per cent seats reserved for Karaikal, four per cent for Mahe and three per cent for Yanam.

Members of the federation said that students belonging to the Puducherry region were affected by the regional reservation.

“There is no provision for territorial reservation in the Constitution. Year after year, more number of students belonging to Puducherry are affected by the regional reservation,” K. Ramu, president of the federation told reporters on Tuesday.

Students belonging to the Puducherry region, according to the federation, were unable to get admission to courses and branches despite securing high marks. Many were not getting admitted in the desired courses.

On the other hand, students who scored low marks from other regions secured admission.

Besides the regional allocation of 25 per cent, there are other horizontal reservations for grandchildren of freedom fighters (four per cent), physically challenged (three per cent), ex-servicemen (three per cent) and sports quota (one per cent) – which totals to 36 per cent.

As a result, the seat distribution is – general: 30 per cent, OBC: six per cent and MBC: 13 per cent.

The federation members stated that these reservations finally reduced the number of seats available for meritorious general and other category students belonging to the Puducherry region. Mr. Ramu pointed out that while a Puducherry student with cut-off mark of 195 and other region student with cut-off mark of 189 gets seats, a student in Puducherry with 191 cut-off marks is denied of a seat.

“The G.O. on regional reservation should be scrapped. There is no use in allotting separate reservation for the Puducherry region. We are planning to approach the court and go for a one-day boycott of classes involving students of government and private schools and meet the Chief Minister.

With the government medical college slated to open this year, we need a solution in the ensuing academic year,” he added. General Secretary of the federation G. Jerald Moses spoke.

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