Reservation Bill in Monsoon Session

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh reiterated today that a controversial bill to reserve higher learning seats will be introduced in Parliament in this session.

''That is the decision,'' Mr Singh told a reporter as he emerged from a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who received expert recommendations on the issue this week.

The HRD Minister was asked whether the government planned to go ahead with the introduction of the bill in this session.

The expert group headed by Veerappa Moily renewed in his report a commitment to reserve 27 per cent seats starting the new academic year, but dropped hints that it might have to be staggered.

The report stressed the faculty and other needs to maintain requisite standards of education.

As Moily put it in an interview aired tonight, the money-- estimated Rs 16,000 crores-- might become available by synchronising the move with the 11th five year plan.

The reservation of seats may then become part of India's thrust towards a knowledge society.

UNI MJ LS GC2240