Uncertainty over `rural weightage' continues

By B. K. Vittal

BANGALORE, JUNE 13. The exercise undertaken by the Government to restore the scheme to give 10 per cent weightage in marks to rural candidates in the State services, which was struck down by the High Court, is still to bear fruit and its materialising within the time-limit of three months set for it appears dim.

The reason is that the three-member commission constituted by the Government to suggest measures to rectify some of the deficiencies pointed out by the High Court is yet to come to grips with certain delicate issues involved, according to sources.

The commission, headed by Mr. Ramakrishna, a retired High Court Judge, set up some time in March, had been asked to submit its report within three months so that what was called the rural weightage rule could be revived. One of the issues it had been asked to go into was whether rural areas with a population of less than 50,000 suffered from educational backwardness to be eligible for the weightage.

It is stated that one of the suggestions before the commission was for holding a sample survey in rural areas to determine the issue, but this had not found favour, specially since secondary material was available readily with the educational authorities.

The secondary data is by way of results of the SSLC and PUC examinations. All details, including the number of students appearing for the two examinations from rural areas every year as also the percentage of passes from these areas for a number of years, have been maintained by the two boards concerned.

It is this indecision that has prevented the commission from going ahead with its work in full speed. The scheme, it may be recalled, was struck down as void by Mr. Justice J. C. Bharuka of the High Court in November last, and the Government, within a few days, preferred an appeal against it to a Division Bench, which upheld the order of the single Judge.

The Government took the matter to the Supreme Court by way of a Special Leave Petition. This was dismissed by the court.

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Section  : Southern States
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