New Delhi, June 12
The Supreme Court, which had said that any agitation in violation of its order would amount to contempt of court, today sought details from the Centre about continuation of demonstrations by pro-reservationists even three days after a prohibitory order was passed by it on May 31.
Details were sought by a Bench of Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice Altams Kabir on an application moved by associations of Resident Doctors of AIIMS and Maulana Azad Medical College here.
The doctors, who had gone on strike against the government decision to extend 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs in higher education institutions and ended their stir only after the court’s intervention when it had passed an order on May 31 banning all forms of agitations on the issue, submitted that the apex court order was applicable to both pro and anti-reservation agitations.
The doctor’s counsel said in spite of a clear order by the court that the strike, agitation or any form of dissent on the issue should stop forthwith, the pro-reservationists held a demonstration at India Gate on June 3 in the Capital and formed a human chain. Identical demonstration was held in Pune, led by a political party.
The doctors’ counsel said holding of such demonstrations three days after the agitations were banned,
amounted to violation of the court order by pro-reservationists.“The government has to apply the law equally to all,” he said, adding that it could not have a soft corner to those supporting its policy and a different rule to those who did not agree with it for being “detrimental” to their interests.
He also alleged that “punitive” actions were being taken against some doctors in different states for participating in the agitation against the reservation policy.
The court told him that it had passed a clear order on this aspect too and no further clarification was required.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General G E Vahanvati placed before the court status report on implementation of its order after receiving details from the state. He said working in all medical colleges across the country had been restored to normal.
The court has given eight weeks tome to the government to place before it a detailed reply on pointed query as to what formed the basis for implementation of 27 per cent quota for the OBCs and the modalities to implement the policy.
