Picture for representational purpose only
"Thiruvananthapuram: The government has decided to continue with the system of 'floating resrvation' for students from Other Backward Communities (OBC) in admissions to medical and professional colleges.
The decision was taken by the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, following discussions held by Higher Education minister KT Jaleel with him.
The move by a section of bureaucratic lobby to stop floating reservation introduced in 1999 to avoid the loss of seats to OBC students, was reported by Madhyamam on 14 October last year. If it is dipensed with, it would cost the OBC's hundreds of seats in such colleges.
'Floating reeservation' was introduced to obviate loss of seats for backward community candidates in profesional college admissions. As per this, a candidate selected under merit, but is also eligible for community reservation quota, can opt for a more convenient or preferred college under community quota. The merit quota seat, on which he got admission, will then be transferred to the preferred college's merit quota. In return, the community quota of the same college will be transferred back to the college where he got admission first. If floating reservation is done away with, the return transfer of the community quota does not happen, and thus will be lost to the community in question.
Government's Principal Secretary had put a note recommending tjat the system be dropped. The rationale behind the note was that through the floating reservation system, admission in certain colleges get limited to certain communities alone which thus affects academic standards.
But minister Jaleel noted in the file that it would create wide repercussions and so the system should continue. Following this, the chief minister held a meeting with minister Dr Jaleel on Wednesday evening where the latter convinced the CM of the conequences of its stoppage. After this, in light of the conflicting recommendations by the minister and the principal secretary, the chief minister issued orders to continue the current mechanism.
It is learned that notification of admissions to medical and engineering courses, which was held up due to the indecision, will be issued on Friday.