OBC quota motivated by political compulsions: Anti-reservationists

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) Anti-reservationists today contended before the Supreme Court that the government move to provide 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in Central institutions of higher education was motivated by ''political and regional compulsions'' rather than the group's betterment.

Counsel for anti-reservationists Harish Salve, pleaded before the five-judge Constitution Bench, that the impugned government notification was ''not prompted by any serious or genuine concern for the OBCs but was the result of political and regional compulsions''.

Mr Salve also contended before the Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan, that petitioner was mainly challenging the validity of Section 3 of Central Educational Institution (Reservation in the Admission) Act, 2006.

According to Mr Salve, the Act was promulgated to benefit the the creamy layer among OBC's at the cost of those who deserve such benefits.

The petitioner further contended that providing reservation in admission to educational institutions of higher learning, without providing for proper education even upto plus-two level, does not constitute an affirmative action by the State for socially, educationally and economically backward section of the society.

Attacking the Government for not agreeing to the exclusion of creamy layer from the benefits of reservation policy, he said it has exposed the ''real intention'' behind the policy.

''The legislation has been inspired by vote bank politics to derive political mileage out of it. Such populist measure can damage the social fabric of Indian society by dividing it along caste lines and equating caste with class cannot be justified,'' Mr Salve said.

The argument remained inconclusive and will be resumed on August 14.

UNI