New Delhi, Feb 7
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 PM due to continued protests by SP, BSP, RJD, Left and other parties over changes in the faculty recruitment system in colleges and universities. These parties raised the issue during the Zero Hour, demanding that the government bring in a bill to restore the previous 200-point roaster system for recruitment to safeguard reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs in higher educational institutions.
The House held a brief discussion during which Ram Gopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party said the new 13-point roaster system in which a university department is a unit to implement reservation adversely affects the interests of SCs, STs and OBCs. He accused the government of not presenting its case strongly on the issue in the court and demanded that a bill should be brought immediately to restore the earlier reservation system.
Satish Chandra Mishra of BSP echoed Mr Yadav’s views, saying as per the new system, SCs, STs and OBCs will be deprived of reservation for years. Manoj Jha of RJD said the government should bring in a bill on the matter instead of filing a review petition in the court to challenge the changes made. CPI member Binoy Viswam also supported the demand. Members from Congress and other parties also lent their support on the issue.
Responding to the members, Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javadekar reiterated the government’s commitment to the reservation and asserted that it will not allow any changes in the quota system. He said the government is seized of the matter and is confident that justice will be done when a review petition is filed in the court. Dissatisfied with the Minister’s reply, members from SP, BSP and RJD raised slogans, forcing adjournment of the House till 2 O’clock
