Reservation unrest in Manipur varsity

Imphal: The issue of reservation seems to have polarised the students of Manipur University here after the University Grants Commission (UGC) slashed the quota for appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff and admission of tribal students.

While the Manipur University Tribal Students` Union (MUTSU) launched a two-day agitation seeking revocation of the UGC policy, the Manipur University Students` Union said a democratic form of agitation should be organised rather than unruly protests.

MUTSU members had locked up the gate of the varsity and disrupted classes to press their demand. But they faced opposition from student groups of other communities that urged the university authorities to follow the UGC policy in this regard.

The Dean`s Committee of the university had endorsed the UGC policy on April 4.

According to the UGC notification, quotas for appointments to the teaching and non-teaching positions and admission of tribal students were fixed at 15 percent for Scheduled Castes, 7.5 percent for Scheduled Tribes and 27 percent for the OBCs.

Officials of Manipur University said UGC policies are binding on all varsities that are funded by the central government.

With the reservation issue rocking the campus, the Joint Students` Coordination Committee (JSCC) has urged the authorities to take steps to ensure normalcy in the university.

JSCC issued a statement saying that if the university authorities do not take steps to ensure that classes are held and the academic atmosphere is not vitiated, then the students` outfit will take action on its own.

In other words, the university may be heading for more trouble.