HRD: No Compromise On Social Justice

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) Weighing legal options after a Supreme Court ruling on reservations for Other Backward Classes, the United Progressive Alliance government declared tonight its resolve ''to ensure that there is no compromise with this commitment towards social justice.'' ''Taking note of the recent developments, we reiterate the UPA Government's resolve to ensure that there is no compromise with this commitment towards social justice,'' an e-statement by the Human Resource Development Ministry said.

''The Government is weighing all legal options available,'' the statement said, adding that ''the UPA allies, the Left Parties and other political parties will also be consulted on the issue at the earliest.'' It recalled that the 93rd Amendment of the Constitution, adopted with near unanimity by Parliament, provided for equity in access to higher education for the weaker sections-- the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes.

''The UPA Government is committed to make appropriate laws in this regard. The boundaries of such laws are laid down in the Constitutional provision of Article 15(5).'' The statement said the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act of Parliament was ''in discharge of this commitment of the UPA Government.'' The UPA Coordination Committee and the Left Parties had resolved on May 23, 2006 that the ''93rd Amendment to the Constitution, providing for reservations in educational institutions, will be implemented by the Central Government in letter and spirit,'' it reminded.

UNI