No provision for reservation to OBCs in PEC, high court told

The Chandigarh administration and Punjab Engineering College (PEC) have told the Punjab and Haryana high court that there is no provision for reservation to other backward classes (OBCs) at the institute for admissions to undergradate and postgraduate courses.

The response came on a March 2018 petition seeking direction to provide OBC quota at the institute.

The UT administration said PEC is not aided by the central government; hence, not bound to give reservation. The UT said the institute is a fully funded body of the Chandigarh administration for recruitment as well as admissions and policies as laid down by it are followed.

The institute, too, said that it does not receive any grant either from the Centre or University Grants Commission and runs on the grant-in-aid from the UT. As far as reservation is concerned, the institute said it is bound by the UT’s decision.

In case 27% reservation for OBCs is effected in the institute, it will exceed the outer limit of 50% as fixed by the Supreme Court.

The petitioner, Gujar Samaj Kalyan Parishad, had argued that the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, says that any central educational institution would be required to make adequate reservation for OBCs . The institutes include those established under the Central Act, declared as a deemed university and maintained by or receiving aid from the central government — directly or indirectly.

PEC has its roots in Mughalpura, a suburban area of Lahore, and was known as Mughalpura Technical College at the time of its inception in 1921 before being renamed Maclagan Engineering College in 1923. In 1953, it was moved here and remained affiliated to Panjab University till 2003 before being declared a deemed university by the Centre. The institute offers eight undergraduate engineering courses and 14 postgraduate courses.

The high court, while taking on record the statements of both the parties, has deferred the hearing till June 18.