Supreme Court stays 27% quota

The apex court on Thursday passed stay order on the implementation of caste-based quotas in centrally-aided institutes of higher learning. The central government had notified a controversial Act reserving 27 per cent seats in higher education for students belonging to backward classes. This was in addition to the 22.5 per cent reservation of seats for students belonging to the scheduled castes and tribes, taking the total reservation to nearly 50 per cent. The legislation sought to implement the reservations in phased manner over the next three years, starting in the academic year of 2007. A Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice L S Panda indicted the government for enacting such a legislation saying that it would divide the country “on the lines of caste and creed”.