Extra seats to offset quotas

THE STATE government feels the larger number of open seats would serve to douse the anger of forward castes by ensuring they don’t lose out on education opportunities.

The state government is actively considering a proposal to create supernumerary quota in higher education and professional courses to ensure that students in the open category are not affected by the increase in reservations for Muslims, ST and Backward Class communities.

The government is all set to pass the Bills to hike the quota for Muslims and STs on April 16.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao gave indications to this effect speaking to the media at Pragathi Bhavan on Thursday.

“We are considering creation of supernumerary quota like some others did to ensure that open categories are not affected on account of quotas being increased for reserved categories. In fact, we are following the Tamil Nadu model as it is,” Mr Rao said. Seats will be enhanced for open quota in proportion to the increase in quotas for various categories. Efforts are being made to do this alongside the quota hike to avoid legal troubles before the commencement of the academic year in June.

The government feels the larger number of open seats would serve to douse the anger of forward castes by ensuring they don’t lose out on education opportunities.

Hyderabad: The vehicle registration number TS 09 ES 9999 was won by Hetero Drugs for `10 lakh at an auction on Thursday. The number was purchased for its `6.85-crore Bentley Mulsanne, according to joint transport commissioner J. Pandurang Naik. The transport department earned `22.6 lakh from the auction. Inter Continental Infrastructure Limited bid lakh for TS 09 ES 0009 for its Innova Crysta worth `20.69 lakh. Sushee Infra and Mining Limited won TS 09 ES 0099 for its `4.49-crore Ferrari 488 GTB and Gayatri Projects Limited TS 09 ET 0007 paid `1.15 lakh for its Mercedes Benz S350 CDI.