SC decides to examine 27.5 per cent quota for OBCs

New Delhi, May 29: The Supreme Court today decided to examine the order of the Union Government providing for 27.5 per cent reservation for the students belonging to OBC category in admission to educational institutions.

A vacation bench comprising Mr Justices Arijit Pasayat and Lokeshwar Singh Panta issued notices to the respondents including the Centre on a PIL filed by an advocate Ashok Kumar Thakur challenging the validity of the impugned government order announced by Human Resource Development minister Arjun Singh.

The court, however, expressed the hope that agitating students would call off their agitation in larger public interest and also in the interest of patients.

The court, while granting eight weeks' time to the respondents to file their response , refused to stay the operation of the impugned order on the grounds that it was a policy decision.

The court also directed the petitioner to file rejoinder if any within six weeks thereafter.

The court directed the Union Government to explain the basis of determining the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and rationale behind adopting norms for identifying OBCs. The apex court also directed the 7 respondents which include various Union Ministries to give details of modalities adopted for identifying the OBCs and also the basis of such modalities.

The Court also made it clear that the contention of the petitioner that the impugned order of the government would divide the nation along caste lines shall also be examined appropriately at a later stage by this court . The order has great social and political ramifications as the impugned order may result in dividing this great country on caste lines.

The additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium accepting the notice on behalf of the Centre appreciated the views expressed by the court hoping for withdrawal of the strike by the students in view of today's developments in the apex court.

The petitioner has pleaded that last caste census was done in 1931 and all other censuses since 1951 have population breakup based on religion and SC/STs which include Sikh and Buddhist group also.

Describing the present reservation policy of the government as one creating chaos, and unrest leading to disturbing law and order situation, the petitioner has called it an attempt to overreach the apex court which has already decided the issue of reservation through catena of rulings.

UNI