Quota vedict 'historic': Arjun Singh

HRD Minister Arjun Singh terms the SC decision as historic and says efforts would be made to implement it from the coming academic session.

HRD Minister Arjun Singh on Thursday hailed as "historic", the Supreme Court verdict upholding the 27 per cent quota for OBC students in higher education institutions, including IITs and IIMs and said efforts would be made to implement it from the coming academic session.

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"This is very historic judgement. Hundreds of students belonging to OBC category will be benefited by it," an elated Singh, who championed the cause of OBC reservation, told reporters shortly after the apex court delivered its much-awaited verdict.

He said the Supreme Court judgement vindicated the UPA government's commitment towards social justice and added the Centre would ensure implementation of the Constitution amendment law providing for 27 per cent quota from the coming academic session.

"I am sure all people who want equity in access to higher education will support this judgement," Singh said pointing out that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had made it clear that no one would be excluded from the process.

The reservation for OBCs would not affect any other category of students as it would be ensured that the opportunity was given to everyone, he said adding "there is no clash of interest".

He thanked the Prime Minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi for the support and guidance they gave him to deal with the matter.

On the Supreme Court excluding the creamy layer among the OBCs from the purview of the quota, the HRD minister said it would have some problem and the issue would have to be sorted out.