New Delhi, October 16
In spite of the Veerappa Moily committee recommending the implementation of the 27 per cent OBC quota at institutes of higher learning in a phased manner from June 2007, the government today told the Supreme Court that it would not be implemented unless a law was passed by Parliament.
Referring to the affidavit filed by the Centre in response to various petitions challenging the government decision to extend 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam said unless there was a law, it would not be enforced.
A statement about the non-implementation of reservation came from the government counsel after a Bench of Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta found several deficiencies in its affidavit and pointed out that the Centre did not have any data on OBCs and it was still being collected.
As Mr Subramaniam said the Bill was introduced in Parliament on August 24 and had been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, the report of which was expected by the winter session, scheduled from November 27, the court stated that the findings of the committee be placed on record in a sealed cover before December 4, the next date of hearing.
At one stage, the court recorded in its order that it was requesting Parliament not to take any steps on the Bill till the matter was examined by it, but such a direction was deleted after Mr Subramaniam objected to it. He said such a direction would have wide impact as it was the prerogative of the legislature to consider any issue.
The court consequently ordered deletion of the paragraph.
