The Hindu : Front Page : Get stay on OBCs case vacated: UPA allies

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Saturday, Apr 07, 2007
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Get stay on OBCs case vacated: UPA allies

Special Correspondent

All efforts to ensure that current academic year is not lost, says Yechury

NEW DELHI: Constituents of the United Progressive Alliance and the Left parties supporting it asked the Manmohan Singh Government on Friday to move the Supreme Court to get the stay on reservation for the Other Backward Classes in central institutions of higher education vacated.

"It was resolved that the Government will take all appropriate steps to ensure that reservation for the OBCs to the extent of 27 per cent becomes operational from this academic session," an official release said at the end of the over two hour-long meeting at the Prime Minister's 7 Race Course residence.

Though the statement did not elaborate on what steps the Government would take, Left party leaders Sitaram Yechury and Abani Roy briefed correspondents separately about the decisions arrived at.

Mr. Yechury, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and MP, said the unanimous opinion was that all efforts be made to ensure that the current academic year was not lost. It was for the Government to move the apex court.

Admissions on hold

The meeting said institutions that had expanded capacity to cater for the additional intake would be asked to put admissions on hold, so that the extra seats were not filled.

The UPA allies and the Left parties authorised Dr. Singh to consult other political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, so that all could be taken on board.

Even the official statement said the Government would consult other political parties.

On the issue of census, Mr. Yechury said there could be nothing like a comprehensive OBC list since it varied from one State to another.

On the question of the creamy layer, he said it was introduced by the apex court in the case of job reservation for OBCs.

Besides the Prime Minister, the meeting was attended by his Cabinet colleagues, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and leaders of the UPA's allies.

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