After a five-hour debate in Lok Sabha, the Bill providing 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in Central-aided educational institutions was passed unanimously today. This happened almost a year after the 93rd amendment was passed by the House last year.

Minutes before the House was to pass the Bill, Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Arjun Singh assured members, “The Bill on unaided institutions is under preparation and it will come before the House soon.”

The Bill on aided institutions, Singh said, will make statutory authority to all laws pertaining to reservation for SCs and STs.

In response to amendment sought by BJP`s V K Malhotra where he argued for inclusion of minority institutions in the OBC quota ambit, Singh said: “Many minority institutions are already giving admission to OBCs, SCs and STs, they will not close the doors for these sections.”

He said he is bound by the four corners of the 93rd amendment. “In the North-East, Central institutions have been kept out as they cater to tribal areas.” Similarly, on exempting 19 “research” institutions, he said, “They do not admit students for studies... they are meant for research. If, tomorrow, they admit students for studies, they will also be brought under this law.”

The debate witnessed over 30 MPs, belonging to almost all political parties, supporting the Bill, except Tathagata Satpathy (BJD MP from Dhenkanal, Orissa) who opposed it. He asking the government and the House to reconsider the Bill and called it a “regressive and reactionary step”.

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