New Delhi: Disagreeing that the Supreme Court’s stay order on 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in educational institutions is a setback for the Congress, the party on Thursday said that the decision was taken by the court because it wanted more data on the number of OBCs in the country.
“The court has not stigmatised the concept per se. It has only said that a better factual finding is required. I don’t know if the Government has this database or not. If it has it can put it before the court,” Congress spokesperson, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.
His reasoned that the stay order was an interim arrangement.
"This is an interim arrangement till the next hearing and if a better factual foundation is available then I am sure that can also be used," Singhvi said.
In its interim order staying the Central Educational Institution (Reservation in Admission) Act of 2006, the Supreme Court held that the 1931 census could not be a determinative factor for identifying the OBCs for the purpose of providing quota.
However, it clarified that the benefit of reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes could not be withheld and the Centre can go ahead with the identification process to determine the backward classes.
Meanwhile, the Law Minister is expected to brief the Prime Minister on the quota ruling on Friday. The Congress will also convene a meeting of all UPA allies to discuss the SC decision.
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