UPA-left for puting on hold quota admissions till May 8

New Delhi, Apr 26 (UNI) The UPA allies and the Left today unanimously decided that the Goverment should go ahead with the admission process for the General category students and put on hold the enhanced seats for the OBC category till May 8 in the educational institutions of higher learning.

The members present at the meeting agreed with the Government view that it should go ahead with admission in general category in IIMs and other institutions of higher learning and wait till the hearing in supreme Court on May 8 on the OBC quota admissions.

However, the members present at the meeting later told mediapersons that Lok Janshakti Party leader Ramachandra Paswan raised the issue of delay till May 8 for the OBC category admission saying the Mandal Commission had already made a provision for the 27 per cent reservation for the OBC. Mr Paswan, therefore, was of the opinion that the Governemnt should rather find out other means to implement the OBC quota.

HRD Minister Arjun Singh addressing the UPA-left meeting told the members that the Government was confident of getting the stay order on 27 per cent admission to OBC by the apex court vacated.

Speaking to mediapersons CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri said, ''We do not want any confrontation between the Legislature and the Judiciary. The Judiciary is supreme in interpreting any law in the manner it wanted but the Legislature also has the power to frame any law.'' Asked what steps the Government should take in the event of stay order not being vacated by the Supreme Court, Mr Yechuri said it was the responsibility of the Goveremnt to get a new Legislation enacted which could serve the purpose.

RSP leader Abani Roy said, ''based on today's decision now there will be no delay in the admission process for the general catagory students.'' Besides Mr Arjun Singh, the UPA-Left meeting was attended by Law Minister H R Bhardwaj, Rural Development Minister Ragjuvansh Prasad Singh, Communication and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran, CPI leader D Raja, AIFB leader Debabrata Biswas, RJD leader Ram Kripal Singh, PMK leader S Ramadoss and Congress President Sonia Gadhi's Political Secretary Ahamed Patel.

UNI