Telangana students must get 85% quota in NALSAR University: Congress

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Monday accused NALSAR University of Law of blatant and deliberate violation of law by denying 85% quota for students of Telangana and no reservation for Backward Classes.

"NALSAR University is providing reservations to only 20% of the total number of seats in the undergraduate program for the 'Local Candidates' candidates as against the statutory requirement of 85%. Further, It does not provide any reservations to BC students, while as per the laws of State of Telangana, BC students are entitled for 29% of reservations," All India Congress Committee (AICC) National Spokesperson Dr. Sravan Dasoju said while addressing a press conference at AICC Headquarters in New Delhi on today. He also released a copy of an open letter he has written to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao alleging of gross injustice being done with the students of Telangana in general and BC student in particular due to non-implementation of reservations in admissions by NALSAR University of Law.

"Constituted in the year 1998 under the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University Act, the NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad has been doing injustice with local students, including BCs, by denying them admission in percentage mandated by law in Five Year BA LLB (Hon's) and other courses such as LLM, PhD and MBA. Ironically, the Government of Telangana is tight lipped despite several representations made so far by various organizations," Sravan alleged.

Sravan pointed out that according to the "National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University Act, 1998", the NALSAR is bound by the 'Guidelines for Strict Implementation of Reservation Policy of the Government in Universities, Deemed to be Universities, Colleges and Other Grant-in-aid Institutions and Centers' issued by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi in 2006. However, the NALSAR deliberately is evading implementing following UGC guidelines that clearly indicate that it is bound by the reservations provided for the State government: 'Without prejudice to the provisions contained in the clause (a) above, in all the educational institutions referred to in clause (a) above and functioning within any State shall follow the percentage of reservation prescribed by the respective State Government.'

Further, Sravan said that by virtue of article 371-D and the subsequent Presidential Order provides for reservation of 85% of the available seats to 'Local Students' in every course of study offered by the State-wide Universities and Statewide Educational Institutions educational institution.

The relevant Para 5 of the Presidential Order on "Reservations in non-Statewide Universities and educational institutions" says that "Admissions to 85% of the available seats in every course of study provided by the Andhra University, the Osmania University or Sri Venkateshwara University or by any other educational institution (other than a Statewide University or a Statewide educational institution) which is subject to the control of the State Government shall be reserved in favor of the local candidates in relation to the local area in respect of such University or other educational institution. It further says that the number of seats to be reserved in favor of local candidates, any fraction of a seat shall be counted as one: Provided that there shall be at least one unreserved seat.

Sravan also pointed out that Damodaram Sanjeevayya National Law University (DSNLU) was established in the year 2008 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh at Visakhapatnam through DSNLU Act, 2008 to impart quality legal education. The DSNLU was established on similar lines of the NALSAR, Hyderabad and DSNLU in Andhra Pradesh is implementing the rule of reservation to BC Students and sons of soil i.e., Local Students.

"One may wonder when in our neighbouring state i.e., the Andhra Pradesh, such rule of law is implemented by the DSNLU, Vishakhapatnam providing reservations to Local Students and also reservations to BC students, what is the predicament of the NALSAR that they do not implement law of the land when the DSNLU and the NALSAR are formed on the same ground and very constitutional principles," he asked.

Many other National Law Universities across the nation such as National Law Institute, University, Bhopal; West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkatta; National Law University, Jodhpur Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur; Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow; Gujarat National Law University, Gandhi Nagar; Chanakya National Law University, Patna; National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi; Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala; National Law University, Cuttack; National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi; Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai; Tamil Nadu National Law School, Srirangam; Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur which were established on the similar lines of the NALSAR, Hyderabad through special acts in their respective state legislative assemblies and are implementing rule of reservation with regard to Local students and also to BC/OBC students as per the state law.

Sravan said that the NALSAR was receiving around Rs. 3.5 Cr to Rs. 4 Cr annual funding from the Government of Telangana and being a State University, it is bound to implement the reservations complying to laws of Telangana. "The NALSAR may have academic autonomy, but certainly there is no administrative autonomy to violate law of land," he said while demanding that the Chief Minister issue orders for implementation of rule of reservation to BC students and to implement the article 371-D and subsequent the Presidential Order providing reservation of 85% of the available seats to local students of Telangana.

He said it was strange that the law was being violated by NALSAR whose Chancellor is none other than the Chief Justice of High Court.

The Congress leader pointed out that the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is scheduled on 26th May, 2019 and hence, the Chief Minister must ensure urgent intervention so that 85% of local students of Telangana and 29% of BC students get the benefit. Nearly 2.5 lakh students are appearing for the CLAT.

"KCR's Kerela tour meaningless"

When asked for reaction on tour of CM KCR to Kerala, Sravan alleged that the TRS President was only trying to create confusion in a post-poll scenario. He said it was ridiculous that KCR was opposing Left parties in Telangana and trying to wipe them out of the State, but he wants to have an understanding with the Left in Kerala.

Sravan said many leaders of non-BJP parties like West Bengal CM Mamata Banjerjee and Odisha Naveen Patnaik have clearly stated that they would not sail with KCR's proposed Federal Front. However, he visited those States on the pretext of performing pooja in famour temples. Presently, no one is support KCR. However, he is only trying to prepare a ground to blackmail and bargain in a post-poll scenario. Ultimately, KCR would support the BJP at the Centre, he said.

Further, the Congress leader predicted that the TRS won't win 16 out of 17 seats in Telangana and his slogan 'Sir, Car, Padaharu (16)' would fall flat.