TNN,
Mumbai Edition, 10th July 2008
TOI Looks At Three Likely
Scenarios That Could Emerge Out Of The Ongoing Controversy
Surrounding The 70:30 Quota
1
If
quota is scrapped, little may change
If
the controversial 70:30 quota is abolished, most principals
feel little will change. Ruia College principal Suhas Pednekar
said that apart from some “adjustment’’
in the third list, scrapping the quota should not pose a
problem. Nothing will change in colleges like St Xavier’s
either, as it has not followed the rule when drawing up
merit lists. The principal said the state government circular
had not reached the institution, even till the third list
was drawn up. Similarly, at H R College of Commerce and
Economics, nothing is likely to change. Principal Indu Shahani
said that when she analysed the first and second admission
lists, the 70:30 rule had “naturally’’
been implemented. “We did deliberately follow the
70:30 rule in the third list, but the first two lists has
naturally seen about 70% local students and 30% students
from the suburbs,’’ said Shahani.
But colleges like Ruparel and Vaze-Kelkar, which have been
releasing two merit lists, with different cut-offs for locals
and outsiders, will have to either redo the admission process
from the second list, or, as one principal said, “Admit
all the students we have shortlisted on the basis of natural
justice and then ask for more seats if we find that meritorious
students from the other quota (30%) have not got in.’’
2
If
70:30 stays, merit may lose out
On
the face of it, there would be little change in this year’s
admission procedure if the Bombay High Court upholds the
state’s decision to implement 70:30 district-wise
reservation. However, colleges would then have to scramble
to fulfil the quota or face the penalty. Colleges fear that
merit will then be sacrificed.
Some principals who have been opposing the 70:30 reservation
said the quota is not healthy in the long run. “We
have followed the 70:30 rule from the second list. But while
short-listing students we have given merit the go-by in
cases because we need to fill 70% of seats with locals.
Any reservation would affect merit. If we are following
reservations this year, we will have to abide by it the
next year and after that,’’ said the principal
of a well-known science college.
Another principal of a prominent South Mumbai college said
that his college has a sprinkling of locals and those from
the suburbs, Thane and Kalyan. “We cannot fill seats
in any ratio defined by geography. If a student has a good
score and is willing to travel to our college, who are we
to decide whether he should be admitted based on some ratio
that is not even backed by reason?’’ he asked.
3
Changing
ratio may lead to redrawn lists
All
hell could break loose if the Bombay high court decides
to keep the district-wise quota, but alters the ratio. The
judge has already stated that he is not against the reservation,
but the percentage of seats set aside for locals as compared
to outsiders.
Principals are braced for the worst—that they would
have to redo merit lists according to a changed quota, 60:40
or maybe 55:45. “If that happens, the entire admission
process would have to be conducted again,’’
said a principal who did not wish to be named. Worse, principals
feel that merit would be hit the most. “There may
be a scenario in which outside district students have to
be admitted despite lower scores. And this scenario would
come up at colleges in either district,’’ said
a principal.
KC College principal Manju Nichani said that it was difficult
to interpret the implications of a change in reservation
ratio. But analysis conducted by her college showed that
386 local students out of a total of 520 in the science
stream were admitted after the first and second lists, when
the 70:30 quota was not yet implemented. However, if the
ratio were to change, say to 50:50, most principals feel
there might be a scenario where some seats for outsiders
may go abegging.
“We may not be able to fill 50% of our seats with
students from far-flung localities. If the court decides
on altering the ratio, colleges must be allowed to transfer
seats from one quota to another,’’ said a vice-principal.
