Reservation for disabled increased to 5%

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 12

A Panjab University committee has approved the enhancement of reservation to persons with disability from 3 per cent to 5 per cent. It will be implemented from the 2018-19 session and has been done to comply with the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities Act.

The implementation of the 5 per cent quota will result in a reduction in the general category seats from 55.5 per cent to 53.5 per cent.

The PU has clarified that the 5 per cent quota will have “horizontal reservation” and 1 per cent each will be reserved for the physical disability, intellectual disability, mental behaviour, disability caused due to chronic neurological conditions and blood disorder and multiple disability categories.

It has also been pointed out that if the 5 per cent reservation of seats comes to 0.5 to 0.9, it shall be treated as one seat. However, after calculating the seats on the basis of 5 per cent if the number of seats is divisible by five, equal distribution of seats will be made for all five categories. If after the division, any remainder is left, it shall be distributed on the basis of inter se merit among all five categories. After calculating on the basis of 5 per cent, if the seats come to less than five, these shall be distributed on the basis of inter se merit among all five categories and if the seats remained unfilled, these shall be treated in the sanctioned strength of seats for the general category.

There is relaxation of five marks for differently abled candidates for the calculation of merit and age relaxation of five years where the upper age limit is mentioned. It has also been mentioned that if a person fraudulently avails or attempts to avail of any benefit meant for persons with disability, he could face punishment of two years or a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both. The Syndicate will take up the issue on November 19. “The quota has been enhanced after directions from the Central Government. A committee was formed under Prof Pam Rajput to look into it,” said Dean of University Instructions, Prof Meenaksi Malhotra.