SC to take up OBC quota constitutional validity issue from Aug 7

The Supreme Court today decided to take up the issue of constitutional validity of the law made for providing 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) students in admission to institutions of higher education from August 7.

New Delhi, July 26 : The Supreme Court today decided to take up the issue of constitutional validity of the law made for providing 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) students in admission to institutions of higher education from August 7.

Supreme Court Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said the matter would be heard by a five-judge Constitution bench.

On July 31, the apex court will take up the Centre's application seeking vacation of the March 29 interim order staying the implementation of legislation providing reservation for the OBCs.

On July 17, in a major setback to the Centre, the apex court had stated that it found no reason to vacate the stay imposed by its March 29 interim order, directing the government to put on hold the implementation of OBC quota in the academic session 2007-08.

A Bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and L S Panta on March 29 had stayed the implementation of section six of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act 2006 providing quota for the OBCs in Central educational Institutions.

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.

ANI