Hyderabad: The state government is actively considering a proposal to create supernumerary quota in higher education and professional courses to ensure that students in the open category are not affected by the increase in reservations for Muslims, ST and Backward Class communities.
The government is all set to pass the Bills to hike the quota for Muslims and STs on April 16. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao gave indications to this effect speaking to the media at Pragathi Bhavan on Thursday.
“We are considering creation of supernumerary quota like some others did to ensure that open categories are not affected on account of quotas being increased for reserved categories. In fact, we are following the Tamil Nadu model as it is,” Mr Rao said. Seats will be enhanced for open quota in proportion to the increase in quotas for various categories. Efforts are being made to do this alongside the quota hike to avoid legal troubles before the commencement of the academic year in June.
The government feels the larger number of open seats would serve to douse the anger of forward castes by ensuring they don’t lose out on education opportunities.
Telangana to follow TN on general list
In Tamil Nadu, where reservations stand at 69 per cent, two merit lists are drawn for 100 seats in a college. One of the lists is for 31 seats — which are left for open quota after 69 per cent reservations. The second list is for 50 seats (as per the Supreme Court’s 50 per cent quota cap). If any non-reserved category student finds place in the 50-seat list and not in the 31-seat list, he is admitted under supernumerary quota. Accor-dingly, a seat will be add-ed to the total 100 seats. Sources said the quota Bills would include supernumerary seats also.
