SC notice to govt on reservation issue

The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the central government questioning the basis on which a policy decision was taken to implement 27% reservation for OBCs.

A vacation bench, comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice L S Panta, appealed to the agitating students to give up their strike since the apex court has decided to examine the entire issue.

The bench, while issuing notices to the concerned ministries, asked them to explain the modalities to be adopted for the implementation of the policy.

The court sought response from the government on how it would deal with the matter and the basis for identifying OBCs besides the rationale for the adoption of norms.

The court granted eight weeks to the government to file a counter-affidavit on the implementation of the policy.

The court said it will examine the effect of the policy's implementation, which the petitioner said will result in division of the country on the basis of caste.

"These questions have serious social and political ramifications, and this court will deal with it appropriately," it said.

The court was hearing two petitions on the issue filed by Shiv Khera and another by advocate Ashok Kumar Thakur.