New Delhi: Oversight Committee Chairman Veerappa Moily on has ruled out any "bulldozing" of the proposal for 27 per cent reservation in elite and Central educational institutions.
He also asserted that protecting the excellence of educational institutions would be the "main theme".
"There is no question of bulldozing the implementation of 54 per cent. We are clear about it. I will examine institution-wise and decide whether they can go in one go or in phases," he said.
The Committee set up to prepare a roadmap for the 27 per cent OBC reservation would take a holistic approach, he said adding that he has "an open mind" about introducing the 54 per cent increased seats in a phased manner rather than at one go.
"It's an open-ended decision. I'm keeping my mind open, this side or that...some institutioins may come forward and say that with the kind of proposals made by the Oversight Committee we can go at one go. That is likely to happen. And some institutions will say it is impossible even if all the facilities are lying there," Moily said.
Asked specifically whether the Committee would allow individual institutions to decide on the implementation, he said "very true, very true".
Moily admitted that all the five sub-groups, which have recently submitted their interim reports to the Committee, "have said it is not possible to implement at one go. It has to be phased".
The former Karnataka Chief Minister said that he would not attempt to persuade the sub-groups to change their mind.
Instead, he would hold extensive meetings with all the institutions as well as with experts from outside to understand their reasons before the Oversight Committee takes a final decision would be based on "a holistic approach".
He said that he has convened a meeting of governing council chairmen and apex council chairman on August 17 and invited experts from all over the country on August 28 and 29 to "ask them what should be the process".
The Committee was asked to submit its final report to the Government by August 31.
Dismissing the dissent expressed by Planning Commission Member Bhalchandra Mungekar and UGC Chairman Sukhdev Thorat that question of staggering the implementation was beyond the remit of the Committee, he emphasised that protecting the excellence of educational institutions was "the main theme".
"That is their personal opinion. I don't think a personal opinion will have an overarching influence over the entire Oversight Committee," he said.
"The Oversight Committee consists of many people and the views of everybody will be taken into consideration. Ultimately the main theme of not disturbing the excellence will prevail on all the institutions," Moily added.
Asked specifically not disturbing excellence would be main theme and everything else would be subordinate, he said "very true, very true".
Asked about the issue of excluding the OBC creamy labour from the quota regime, Moily described it as a "debatable point" and insisted that this was part of the remit of the Committee.
"After all, the policy of implementation is within the jurisdiction of the Oversight Committee. So we are taking the design of implementation into this and the creamy layer is one component of the implementation process and implementation design", he said.
When pointed out that five Committee members reportedly observing that the issue of excluding the creamy layer was outside the purview of the Committee, Moily ticked them off for raising the issue in public and asked them to instead keep an open mind. "I think it can be taken up in the final report", he said.
Moily was asked why the cut-off mark for OBCs was not pegged at the same level as SC/STs and whether as a result, a higher cut off mark would effectively underine reservations for OBCs.
"OBCs are not equivalent to SC/ST...the idea is not to degrade these institutions to enable the OBC students to get in. I want the OBC students to go to institutions which have enhance prestige. After all, that is in their interest...I don't want to compromise on excellence", Moily added.
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