Quota order: Govt promises action

Not satisfied, members from the treasury benches, their supporting teammates in the Left and the BJP-led Opposition competed in slamming what they termed a “regressive” order that negates “social equity” and “violates the Constitution”. If a bill was not possible this session, they said, bring an ordinance.

Rajya Sabha chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had a tough time tackling irate members and had to assure them that their names would be put in parliamentary records with Antony’s query.

Congress minister of state Narayanswami’s “let us stop commercialisation of education” was matched by CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu’s exhortation that the government bring an amendment “undo the regressive order with an amendment’’. BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad and Janata Dal (U) Sharad Yadav demanded a bill in the ongoing session saying “assurance is not enough”.

AIADMK’s P.G. Narayanan, Congress’ Vylar Ravi and P.J. Kurien along with the TDP members — in a rare show of unity — asked for “urgent action’’ from the government.

On August 12, the Supreme Court had ruled that states have no right to appropriate seats as their quota in professional private colleges as well as unaided and aided minority institutions. A seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti said minority institutions, whether aided or non-aided, were free to admit students of their choice.

Jaya issues takeover threat

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday declared that her government ‘‘will not hesitate’’ in taking over self-financing professional colleges if the ‘‘situation so warrants,’’ even while announcing the state government decision to file a review petition against the recent Supreme Court order on admission to professional colleges. She also asked the Centre to bring a legislation to overcome the “piquant” situation caused by the SC order. ENS