Arjun updates Kalam about OBC quota

New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh this evening called on President APJ Abdul Kalam and is understood to have briefed him about the situation arising out of the Supreme Court stay on implementation of 27 per cent OBC reservation in Central educational institutions.

The meeting lasted about 15 minutes during which Mr Singh is also reported to have discussed the appointment of new vice-chancellor for the Aligarh Muslim University whose VC resigned last week, sources said.

Mr Singh's meeting with the President took place shortly after the Central government informed the Supreme Court that it was going to file an application for seeking vacation of the court's interim stay.

However, the government application was not filed today, as expected.

It is believed that the main hurdle coming in the way of finalising the application is the difference of opinon within the government over the issue of inclusion of the creamy layer from the benfit of quota, an issue against which the apex court had expressed its reservations in its interim order.

However, a few days ago, Mr Singh had said it was not in his power to exclude the creamy layer as there was an all-party consensus about its inclusion.

The 27 per cent reservation for OBCs was to be implemented from the 2007-2008 academic session, and the admission process had almost been completed, but it had to be put on hold following of the court stay.

UNI