HC turns down job quota in aided non-minority colleges

Kochi: The High Court has ruled that the government cannot force private non-minority aided colleges to implement job quotas in teaching and non-teaching posts in such institutions.

A division bench of the HC was hearing writ appeals by various aided college managements against a single judge directive, which made reservation in teaching and non-teaching posts compulsory in those colleges. The single judge had also asked all universities to amend or frame their statues to ensure that similar reservation was made for SC/ST candidates in those posts.

The court in effect annulled the single judge order, observing that the Supreme Court had held that the right to establish and run educational institutions by non-minority communities formed part of the rights under Article 19(1) (g) of the Constitution.

The government's order requiring the private educational institutions to follow government in the matter of job reservation would violate the autonomy of those institutions recognized by the apex court.

The Division Bench also held that the government control envisaged in the appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff of private institutions covered only the framing of rules and regulations with the objective of promoting good administration and of preventing maladministration.