NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Bill providing reservation for the socially and educationally backward classes, besides the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, in private unaided educational institutions.

The Constitution (104th) Amendment Bill, piloted by Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, first such exercise by the United Progressive Alliance Government, was passed with a majority of the members present and voting. Of the 381 members present, 379 voted in its favour, one member voted against it and one member abstained.

Prior to the passage, the House rejected an amendment moved by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra demanding that the Bill should not exclude minority institutions. While 110 members voted for the amendment, 272 voted against and three members abstained.

Though it pressed for an amendment, the BJP supported the Bill as it was not against reservation, Mr. Malhotra said. His references to the role of the Congress during Partition led to a brief commotion as the ruling coalition benches joined issue. Mr. Arjun Singh, who initially refused to entangle himself, had the last word, saying the BJP president, during his Pakistan visit, described the person, who was behind Partition, as secular.

Support from all over

Although the debate progressed on party lines, with the BJP and some of its allies opposing the Constitution Amendment and the Shiv Sena members walking out, support came from across the floor.

Many members of the ruling coalition sought legislation to regulate admission and the fee structure, while others stressed that reservation should be provided in minority institutions also.

In his reply, Mr. Singh denied the Opposition charge that the government had not informed the all-party meeting called by the HRD Ministry in August that minority institutions would be kept out of the purview of the Bill.

The Minister said the fundamental right under Article 30 (1) stood the test of time and it was because of the assurance to minorities there were more Muslims in the country than in Pakistan. "Do have a partisan objective but do not project it to a point that it starts harming the country," he said.

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