NCP, a constituent of the Democratic Front government in the state along with Congress, expressed satisfaction with the decision after it was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet in Mumbai. "All credit should go to Pawar who recently made a strong plea for resuming reservations which were stopped in 2005 following a Supreme Court ruling in the P A Inamdar case", NCP leader and PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal said. Congress too welcomed the cabinet decision, saying the party had always made concerted efforts for backward sections of the society.

The Reservation Ruccus

"Congress has always been on the side of backward and poor people. It has favoured reservations for these sections of the society," MPCC spokesperson Husain Dalwai told PTI. Admissions for the academic year 2006-07 in these institutions would be carried out as per the decision and an ordinance for the same would be issued soon, official sources said. While 15 per cent of the seats would be filled under NRI and other quotas, 10 per cent would be filled through all-India entrance examination, the sources said. Of the remaining 75 per cent seats, 50 per cent would be reserved for SCs, STs and OBCs, they added.

The quantum of reservations would be 13 per cent for SCs, seven for STs and 30 per cent for OBCs, Bhujbal, a strong proponent of reservations, said. After the Supreme Court in August 2005 ruled against reservations in these institutions in the Inamdar case, the Central government amended the Constitution and asked state governments to frame legislation for allowing reservations, he said. As the admission process was round the corner, an ordinance would be issued soon, he said.

A comprehensive bill would be tabled in the monsoon session of state legislature which would include setting up of a regulatory authority to implement various facets of reservations, Bhujbal said.

BJP state spokeperson Vinod Tawde said his party supported reservations but 'would like to go into details of today's cabinet decision before making a detailed comment.'