OBC edu quota violates model code of conduct: EC

New Delhi, Apr 8: The Election Commission today directed Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi to obtain an ''explanation'' from Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh for announcing a 27 per cent quota for OBC students in central educational institutes in violation of the model code of conduct.

The commission said Mr Arjun Singh's announcement, reported in the electronic and print media, ''amounts to a new concession to certain section of the electorate'' in the assembly poll-bound states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Asom and Kerala and Pondicherry. ''It prima facie violates the model code of conduct,'' the EC said in a letter to the Cabinet Secretary, commission sources said.

Taking a serious view of the concession, the commission regretted that the announcement had been made despite its clarification on March 1 while announcing the assembly elections that the model code ''is applicable to the Union Government also'' as far as the poll-bound states were concerned.

The EC further mentioned that the commission ''has desired that the explanation of Mr Arjun Singh may be obtained and forwarded to the commission by Monday, 5 PM for further necessary action.''

UNI