The correction in the latest GR states, “In minority-status junior colleges, the seats will be filled purely on the basis of merit”
Maharashtra on Monday issued a revised Government Resolution (GR) stating that SC/ST/OBC reservations will not apply to minority trust-run colleges for the First Year Junior College (FYJC) admissions.
The school education department of the state issued a correction to an earlier Government Resolution (GR) which applied SC/ST/OBC reservation to open seats in minority trust-run junior colleges, which was subsequently challenged in the HC.
The HC had halted the effects of the decision granting interim relief to junior colleges run by minority trusts on June 12.
Citing the court order, the revised GR states that changes are being made in the procedure to be followed by minority institutions regarding centralised online admission for Class 11.
“All provisions of the state government regarding social and parallel reservations shall apply to all junior colleges in the state, except those with minority status, for admissions to Class 11,” it states.
The revised GR also removes the line from the old GR which stated, “If admissions are lower than the intake capacity in minority quota, surrendered vacant seats will be filled based on the centralised admission process (CAP) where all social and parallel reservations are applicable.”
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The correction in the latest GR states, “In minority-status junior colleges, the seats will be filled purely on the basis of merit.”
The state government’s decision to apply SC/ST/OBC reservation on open seats of minority-trust-run junior colleges had led to a controversy.
As per the established practice, 45 per cent of the total intake in minority institutions is kept open to all students, irrespective of category, after reserving 50 per cent for the particular minority, and 5 per cent for management quota.
However, the government applied social and parallel reservations on those 45 percent seats.
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As it was not officially declared by the government, it came to light after minority trust-run junior colleges saw a sharp decline in the number of open seats on the FYJC admission portal.
It was immediately objected by the Maharashtra Association of Minority Educational Institutions, calling it “arbitrary”.
But after receiving no positive response from the government, the association and a few other individual minority-trusts running educational institutions had moved HC, earlier this month.
The HC initially asked the government to withdraw the clause applying social and parallel reservations to these institutions in FYJC admissions. But after the state refused to withdraw it, the HC halted the effects of the decision.
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“It was a relief. But ambiguity remained as neither the admission portal reflected required changes nor did the government make any formal announcement, following the court order. The revised GR now brings clarity and at the same time, required changes are made to the seat matrix on the admission portal,” the principal of a minority trust-run junior college said.
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting.
Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive:
Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses).
Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers.
Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis).
Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized.
Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families.
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