LI Network
Published on: 30 January, 2024 at 14:00 IST
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the controversy surrounding the draft guidelines proposed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding the filling of reserved posts in higher education institutes. Pradhan emphasized on Sunday that there will be no de-reservation of any post.
He asserted that the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019, leaves no room for ambiguity regarding reservations.
“There will be no de-reservation of any reserved post. There is no ambiguity after the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019,”
The UGC’s draft guidelines suggest that if there are insufficient candidates from the SC, ST, and OBC categories for a reserved vacancy, it can be declared unreserved.
The draft guidelines have faced criticism from various quarters. The Congress has alleged a “conspiracy” to undermine reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs in higher educational institutions, accusing the Modi government of engaging in symbolic politics rather than addressing the issues faced by Dalits, backward classes, and tribals.
In response to the controversy, the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) has announced plans to protest and burn an effigy of UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar.