Maharashtra for 90 pc SSC quota, students enraged

90 PC QUOTA: Students are enraged as the state decides to reserve 90 pc junior college seats for SSC students.

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Mumbai: Students are enraged as the state government has decided to reserve a whopping 90 per cent of junior college or Class 11 seats for SSC or state board students.

Maharashtra Education Minister, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil made the announcement, saying, "We have decided to implement the 90-10 quota for junior college admission from this year onwards."

His words sparked off another reservation debate in Maharashtra and a scramble for limited college seats - a move that will leave children from all other boards fighting for just 10 per cent of the seats.

Sanjay Kher and his son Nimoy, an ICSE board student have decided to fight the government's decision in the Bombay High Court.

"This decision is in clear violation of Article 14 of the Constitution," says Kher, who is a lawyer.

But SSC students claim that the existing form of admissions is unfair to them as their counterparts from other boards like the ICSE score higher.

SSC student's parent, Anuradha Patwardhan says, "A lot of their students end up getting more than 90-95 per cent marks and end up grabbing seats in the best of colleges, while even our toppers have to wait for the second and third cut off lists."

Her daughter, Aishwarya Patwardhan says, "Our papers are tougher while their best of five subjects are considered."

However, this is a charge the other side won't take lying down.

ICSE student Sudhoshra Gavandkar says, "That's not true. We have to study for and appear for 12 papers of 100 marks each, which are then compressed into 700 marks in the total."

Her mother, Smita Gavandkar says, "This is unfair. Why should my child suffer even after scoring more than an SSC student? She will still not be able to get into a college of her choice."

The state will declare the SSC results on June 25 and that will set the admission process in motion.

While parents and students on both sides trades charges and arguments, the fate of over 15,000 non-SSC board students hangs in the balance. The matter now comes up for hearing in the Bombay High Court.

(With inputs from Alka Dhupkar, Raksha Shetty in Mumbai)