MP: Minority institutions exempt from online admissions

Madhya Pradesh, April 30, 2012: Christians had alleged the move would hijack the constitutional rights of minority institutions to function without government interference.

A Christian group in Madhya Pradesh has appreciated the state government for agreeing to their demand to exempt minority-run higher education institutions from online admission process.

“It is a welcome step as it shows that the government is concerned about minorities,” said Father Anand Muttungal, co-ordinator of Isai Mahasangh (Christian Front).

The state government had Saturday reviewed the matter and passed the order exempting the minority-run unaided and autonomous institutions from online admission procedure.

Unaided institutions are those which run without any financial help from government.

A delegation of the Mahasangh had last week met state Governor Ram Naresh Yadav after the government made it mandatory for higher education institutions to adopt online admission process.

The group had also met state Higher Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma regarding the matter.

Threatening legal action against the government, the group members had alleged that the move would hijack the constitutional rights of minority institutions to function without government interference.

According to the earlier policy, students had to apply online and opt for colleges listed by the higher education department. The government would then select the appropriate college for the student.

Students and colleges would have no power to decide for themselves under the policy.

Father Muttungal said that the officials’ lack of knowledge about the minority rights seemed to have created the present crisis.

He said that the Indian Constitution allows religious minority communities to set up and run their educational institutions without state interference.

The delegation had also alleged that the government did not consult the minority community before making such policies.

– ucan