XI LOK SABHA DEBATES,   Session IV (Budget) 

Thursday , May 8, 1997 / Vaisakha  18 1919 (Saka)



Type of Debate: SPECIAL MENTION			

Title: Need to restore the reservation for the Urdu students and the families 
of the staff in order to maintain the minority character of the Jamia Millia 
Islamai University.

TEXT :
 SHRI G.M.  BANATWALLA  (PONNANI):    Mr.    Chairman,  Sir,  there  is a great
agitation by the students and the staff of the Jamia Millia Islamia in  Delhi.
This  agitation  is  for reservation for Urdu students and for reservation for
the families of the staff.    There  is  also  a  legitimate  demand  for  the
restoration  of  the  minority character of the Jamia Millia Islamia of Delhi.
Even the National Minorities Commission has expressed serious concern over the
developments and it has  supported  the  demands.    The  National  Minorities
Commission,  I believe, has even pleaded for the amendment to the Jamia Millia
Islamia Act, 1988.  We, in this House in 1988, had moved several amendments so
that such situations might not come and there is reservation for Urdu students
and reservation for the families of the staff and that the minority  character
of the  Jamia  Millia  Islamia  is duly preserved.  But at that point of time,
this did not happen.  Now, we have a very serious situation.  The  functioning
of the Jamia Millia Islamia has been adversely affected.  The demands are very
legitimate.

	I,  therefore, appeal to the Minister of Human Resource Development to
intervene in the matter of the legitimate demands to satisfy the students,  to
satisfy  the  staff  and  also to make a statement here in the House accepting
these particular demands.  The Government should bring forward, if  necessary,
the  legislation  for  amendment  of  the Jamia Millia Islamia Act in order to
restore the reservation  for  the  Urdu  students,  the  reservation  for  the
families  of  the staff and in order to maintain the minority character of the
Jamia Millia Islamia.  ...Interruptions
This is an issue of great importance but it is  very  disappointing  that  the
Government has  not  responded  to  it.   There must be some response from the
Government on this particular agitation of staff and students.




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