AGARTALA, Feb 13 (TIWN): 9 MPs under CPI-M leadership has demanded PM Modi’s intervention in the matter whether ST, SC, OBC would be barred from Teaching in the Central Universities and Institutions ? In a letter to Prime Minister Modi, the MPs wrote, “We write to you seeking your intervention in the reservation roster for teaching posts in Universities, in the context of the recent dismissal of SLP filed by the Union Govt, challenging the order of subdivisional bench of the Allahabad High Court in WA No-43260 of 2016 Sri Vivekanad Tewari and Anr vs. Union of India. The above order was a result of the writ filed against the UGC guidelines of 2016 that has directed universities and colleges to follow the Principal of taking University / College as a unit while making the roster. The Principal was insisted upon as the experience of making department / subject-wise rosters had delayed the fulfillment of the constitutionally mandated percentage of 50% for the SC, 7.5% for STs, 27% for OBCs since the department /subjects are usually very small”.

It can be noted here that the government has put on hold recruitment for teaching positions in universities and colleges pending a decision on the special leave petition it has filed against a court order curtailing reservation for SC/ST and OBCs.

The HRD Minister before 6 months said the government is committed to 50 per cent reservation to SC/ST and OBCs and it "does not agree" with the Allahabad High Court ruling that had in last April struck down a circular prescribing institution-wise reservation to fill vacant faculty positions.

Previously, SC, ST and OBC faculty positions were calculated by treating the entire university as a unit. It grouped all posts of a grade, such as assistant profession, in all departments of a university to calculate quota.

Under the new formula, where every department will be considered one separate unit, there will be a lower chance of positions being set aside for quota as there may be fewer openings. HRD Ministry had ordered a stop on filling of vacancies at universities/colleges pending decision on SLP. "No harm will be done to reservations (to SC, ST and OBCs)”.

The MPs said as per the Constitution, 15 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 27 per cent reservation is provided for SC/ST and OBC respectively. Till now, the UGC had specifically prohibited the practice of making department-wise cadres as that would lead to denial of reservation in small departments.

They demanded that the UGC order be declared "null and void", seeking PM’s intervention in it.