HRD Ministry to abide by Supreme Court order

Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh today said that his ministry would abide by the directions of the apex court, which has declined to vacate a stay on the implementation of a quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in elite educational institutions.

New Delhi, Aug 8 : Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh today said that his ministry would abide by the directions of the apex court, which has declined to vacate a stay on the implementation of a quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in elite educational institutions.

"I think it will require a little time for us to think over these things, but we will do primarily as the Supreme Court desires," said Singh.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court declined the Centre's plea to vacate the stay on the implementation of reservation for the OBCs in the central educational institutions.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan refused to pass any interim order.

The Bench said it will hear the main petition to examine the Constitutional validity of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act 2006 that provides for 27 per cent reservations for OBCs in elite institutions.

"We are not going to pass any interim order," the Bench said.

Through its March 29 interim order, the apex court directed the government to put on hold the implementation of OBC quota in the academic session 2007-08.

M. L. Lahoti, Advocate for Youth for Equality, who challenged the reservation in the Supreme Court, said the Bench has declined to interfere in an already passed order.

"The Chief Justice clearly indicated that on March 29 once the stay has been passed, they are not going to interfere and vacate the stay as it will create probably more confusion and complications," said Lahoti.

The court has directed the petitioners to open arguments on the merits of the case.

"The arguments will go on at least for another two to three weeks and thereafter the final judgment will be pronounced on the merit of the case," said Lahoti.

The government wants to increase the number of seats in colleges for lower caste students to 49.5 percent from 22.5 percent, a move strongly opposed by mainly upper caste students.

The Government's reservation policy had prompted angry street protests by students opposing the reservation last year.

ANI