Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha. (File Photo) Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha. (File Photo)

The government is in the middle of a process to offer quota to OBCs in recruitment of faculties in central universities and IITs as per “already existing” policies and will “soon” arrive at a decision in this regard, Union minister Upendra Kushwaha Monday said. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, the Minister of State for HRD also said the NDA government will “soon” reach a decision to give OBCs reservation in list of students nominated to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas every year.

The comments from Kushwaha, an OBC leader himself, assume significance as they come ahead of assembly election in Uttar Pradesh — home to sizeable OBC population — as constituents of NDA are pulling out all stops to woo voters there.

“… There is no provision for reservation for OBCs in recruitment of faculties, associate professors and professors in central universities, IITs. This is when the government of India has a policy of following reservation in these places. “In other words, this (not giving quota) is violation of the policy. We are now paying attention to this. We are in the middle of the process and soon we will arrive at a decision in this case too,” Kushwaha said.

He further said students from SC and ST communities have been offered reservation in list of between 80 and 100 students nominated to each of country’s Jawahar Navoday Vidyalayas from rural parts every year, but there is no such provision for OBCs.

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“I was surprised to know this. Our ministry is now paying attention to this and we will soon arrive at a decision. An arrangement will be made for providing reservation in nomination for OBC students in these Vidyalayas,” he added.

Kushwaha rued that strength of OBCs among Supreme Court and high court judges was “negligible”. “OBC people will not get justice until they make it to the judiciary. The Constitution provides for Indian Administrative Service. There is also a provision for Indian Judicial Services. But it is not being followed up,” he said.

He also pitched for giving quota to OBCs in private sectors and the sector of media too as the number of government jobs is “shrinking”. “Our party has taken up these programmes. We will take up the issue at the level of government and our workers will also hit streets if need be,” the minister added.

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