The government on Saturday favoured 'consensus' on job reservation for disadvantaged groups in private industry and said it would take stakeholders into confidence before reaching a decision.
"We do have an obligation towards the backbenchers of the society and the United Progressive Alliance government is committed to them. But we will take everyone into confidence before any decision is arrived at in this regard," Minister of State for Company Affairs P C Gupta said at a seminar.
There should be national consensus on the issue of reservation in corporates and a debate should be initiated for for arriving at a decision, he said.
"Corporate sector need not worry. Any decision will be made only after taking them (industry captains) into confidence," he said while addressing the seminar on 'Concept Paper for Revamping of Company Law,' jointly organised by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and industry chamber Assocham.
"Let us deliberate on the issue. Consensus will hold the key," Gupta said.
Talking about the concept paper released by the company affairs ministry to solicit the views of the industry for pruning the Companies Act, he said the Bill might be introduced in the next session of Parliament.
The Companies Act, enacted in 1956, contains 781 provisions. The government plans to cut it short to about 287.