Reservation, unspecified seats to be added: UPA

New Delhi, May 23 : Notwithstanding ongoing agitation, the United Progressive Alliance government tonight announced it will reserve 27 per cent higher education seats for students of Other Backward Classes and add an unspecified number of seats to cushion the impact.

Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh was not immediately available for comment, but with the decision by an Alliance coordination committee now in place, the HRD Ministry has its task cut out.

Legislation for 27 per cent reservation for OBC students is to be brought before Parliament in the Monsoon session and a comprehensive report-- presumably detailing the increase feasible in higher education seats-- produced by August 31.

The goal is to implement reservation in educational institutions under the Central government's purview starting June 2007, the Alliance said.

The Alliance said the task is to be turned over to an 'oversight committee' to be put together to draw up a timebound roadmap to implement decisions it took.

It said smaller groups consisting of Deans, Directors and Vice Chancellors of the institutions concerned would be constituted to work out details for each class of institutions.

The 'Oversight Commitee' will put together the recommendations of these groups and submit a comprehensive report by August 31, the announcement said.

UNI