Reported by NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: The Meghalaya High Court, on Friday, heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, which raises questions over the use of the state’s Job Reservation Policy in the allocation of quota seats for higher professional studies.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh presided over the hearing. During the proceedings,
Advocate General Amit Kumar raised concerns regarding the maintainability of the petition and sought additional time to submit a reply affidavit.
The court accepted the request and directed the state government to submit its affidavit before the next hearing, with a copy to be shared with the petitioner’s counsel.
The case has been scheduled for hearing on June 5.
As per the petition, the Meghalaya government receives reserved seats from the central quota pool for courses including MBBS, engineering, paramedical sciences, architecture, agriculture, and veterinary disciplines in institutions located outside the state.
It is alleged in the plea that while inviting applications, the authorities continue to apply the state’s employment reservation framework to distribute these seats among Khasi-Jaintia, Garo, other indigenous groups, and the unreserved category.
According to the petitioner, no separate policy framework exists that is specifically designed for admissions to academic courses.
He submits that the allocation of seats in educational institutions is being carried out using the same structure meant for job reservations.
It is also alleged that while processing applications, the authorities divide the available seats among Khasi-Jaintia, Garo, other indigenous communities, and the unreserved category based on the employment reservation system.
The PIL further states that reservation, being an exception to the constitutional principle of equality, must rest on clear legal backing.
It contends that the existing arrangement lacks such statutory support and is therefore not in line with constitutional provisions.