Institution not given RS recognition

The bill to declare IIITDM as an institute of national importance met with major resistance in Rajya Sabha as Jesudasu Seelam, a member of the ruling Congress party, dem­a­nded reservations for SC/ST faculty.

The MP received immediate support from BSP, RJD, SP and Left party members, who refu­sed to pass the bill without discussion when it had barely any time on Wednesday.

The Ho­use did not conduct business on Thursday, stopping the bill from coming into effect despite being passed by the Lok Sabha on August 25 and causi­ng the June 20 ordinance to lapse.

The government should now promulgate a fresh ordinance in order to establish the Institute’s legal status.

It should be replaced by a legislation either in winter or budget session, if the  58 students of the first batch were to get their legally recognised degrees.

“We have time. The Centre may manage to get the bill passed in next sessi­on,” sources from the Ka­nchipuram-based Institute told Deccan Herald.

The bill provides no reservation for faculties, though it has reservation for student admission, which prompted Seelam to object.