Supreme Court refuses to lift OBC quota stay

The central government suffered another setback today when a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan declined to vacate the stay on the implementation of 27 per cent quota for other backward classes (OBCs) in top educational institutions.

With this, the debate has been closed for the instutitions as far as this academic year is concerned.

The Bench dismissed the Centre's application requesting a change in the March 29 stay order.

On that day, a two-judge Bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat had stayed the government notification for OBC quota for one year. The Constitution Bench, which also has Justice Pasayat, refused to make any modification in the earlier order.

The Bench then continued to hear the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admissions) Act, 2006.

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The beginning of the rumblings

1980 Mandal Commission recommends quota for OBC in education and jobs

Dec 2005 UPA Government passes 93rd Constitution Amendment Bill (education quota for socially and educationally backward)

Apr 2006 HRD Minister Arjun Singh Confirms quota for OBC in Central bodies planned

May 2006 Anti quota stir begins Moily Committee set up SC notice to Govt on quota, student stir EC notice to Arjun Singh

Sep 2006 Moily for quota in three phases from 2007-2008

Dec 2006 Cabinet approves OBC quota Bill

Mar 2007 SC stays OBC quota