New Delhi, April 10
With 27 per cent OBC quota in central institutions of higher learning caught up in a legal battle, the Centre today said it was examining all options under the law to resolve the issue at the earliest.
Last month, the Supreme Court had stayed reservations for OBCs in central institutions of higher education.
The court in its interim order said it would be desirable to keep on hold the operation of this Act in so far as it related to OBCs. The HRD ministry is expected to file a petition to get the stay vacated.
HRD minister Arjun Singh told a two-day conference of state education ministers here that the government was examining all legal options to resolve this issue at the earliest.
The ministry was also considering recommendations of the Fatmi Committee for giving a boost to minority education.
Referring to the amendment to Article 15 of the Constitution which enabled reservation for SCs, STs and other socially and economically backward classes in admission to educational institutions, Arjun Singh urged chief ministers to enact state-specific legislation for the purpose.
Noting that only six states, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, had so far enacted such laws, he sought feedback from other states on the issue.
The conference has been called to deliberate on issues concerning elementary, secondary, higher and technical education with particular focus on the commencement.
