SC's refusal to vacate stay on quota not a setback: Arjun

The government maintains that the apex court refusal to vacate its stay on implementation of 27 per cent OBC quota is not a setback.

The government on Wednesday maintained that the Supreme Court refusal to vacate its stay on implementation of 27 per cent OBC quota was not a setback.

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"The delay was not on our part. At every stage we were eager to get the matter resolved. Now we will see what can be done", HRD Minister Arjun Singh said when asked to react to the apex court decision.

Asked whether the apex court decision was a setback, he said he would not say it was a setback and the court has not rejected it.

"Obviously. We don't think they will celebrate. The ministry is trying to do what is correct," Singh said when asked whether the OBC students would be disappointed with the court decision.

Asked whether the programme to expand the infrastructure in the institutions of higher learning would go ahead, he said that the government would have to examine the issue.

Replying to another question on the fate of OBC students who have already secured admission this year in some institutions, he said it was entirely for the institutions to decide as "those who have been admitted have been admitted."