Defer draft bill on reservations till elections are over: EC

New Delhi, Apr 22 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) has asked the government to defer sending the draft bill on reservations to the Union Cabinet till assembly elections in five states are over.

''We have told the ministry of human resource development that it is desirable if the bill is deferred for cabinet approval till the elections are over,'' said Deputy Election Commissioner R Bhattacharya today.

The issue came to a head two weeks ago when HRD Minister Arjun Singh was asked by the EC to explain an announcement of 27 per cent reservation to other backward classes - OBCs- in violation of model code of conduct.

HRD Minister Arjun Singh categorically denied charge, saying he made no announcement of ''any concession much less any other breach of the model code of conduct''.

A draft reservation bill was reportedly returned by the Cabinet Secretary to the ministry pending clarification from EC whether the proposal can be taken up at the cabinet meeting immediately or after elections.

UNI SU PK RAI2005