New Delhi, December 6
The Congress-led UPA government’s move to reserve 27 per cent seats for OBCs in institutes of higher education hits a serious roadblock with the Parliamentary Standing Committee studying the OBC Reservation Bill emphasising that the “creamy layer” should be kept out of the quotas.

This might spark another wave of protests from those wanting all OBCs to benefit from reservation thereby delaying the implementation of the controversial quotas.

Even as the Bill that has been tabled and the Moily Committee strongly supporting quotas for all OBCs, the Parliamentary Committee insists that the poor among the OBCs should get the benefit first. The creamy layer must be considered later and that too in order of merit and only when there are unfilled vacancies.

The Bill seeks to increase seats while introducing quotas in institutes like the prestigious IITs and IIMs as well as the universities.

However, the Standing Committee firmly believes that the interests of the socially and educationally backward among the minorities must be taken care of through a suitable mechanism coupled with ensuring that women did not get sidelined.

Even though the Left parties are backing the proposed legislation, the UPA allies like RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav and DMK's M Karunanidhi have strong reservations. The RJD is all set to oppose the Bill contending there are no jobs and it does not make any sense talking of the creamy layer.

As evidenced in the past, a consensus has proved to be elusive on the issue of quotas.

To compound matters, there are Assembly elections in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh next year.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said the government would examine the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on quotas in the Cabinet.

Simultaneously, Mr Dasmunshi felt that the government would also have to look into the committee’s recommendation of a comprehensive survey of population for caste and community data.