All speculations regarding the government’s move after Supreme Court’s direction over exclusion of the creamy layer among OBCs in admission to the central universities, and medical and technology institutions is believed to have ended for now with the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) to implement the OBC reservation sans creamy layer.
The CCPA on Thursday decided to implement the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 from the coming academic year but as per Apex Court’s directions which asked the government to implement OBC quota in higher central institutions but barring creamy layer among them from benefiting reservation.
The CCPA however had dissatisfaction over exclusion of creamy layer but eventually decided to give priority to the Apex Court order but suggestions were also floating in the meeting to raise the income bar of Rs 2.5 lakh a year.
With this decision the uncertainty over the government’s move whether it would file a review petition against the Supreme Court direction has ended.
As per the source it seems that the CCPA decision was influenced by the HRD Ministry’s view that court order should be implemented without further delay as admission process already has commenced in many institutions besides the IIM’s pressure which has kept postgraduate admissions on hold following Court’s order and was seeking clarity on the issue from the government.
Since the government has paucity of time for this year’s academic sessions so the existing creamy layer criterion of the 1993 order will be applied to OBC admissions. But the minister added further that criterion defining creamy layer could change such as income bar of Rs 2.5 lakh a year from the next year academic session so that the new creamy layer could be benefited from the reservation.
Earlier the HRD Minister had sought views of the Social Justice Ministry so that CCPA could decide over the issue. The social justice ministry had also said that the National Commission for Backward Classes would change the creamy layer criterion later.
As per the existing creamy layer criterion of 1993, amended in 2004 a person of Other Backward Classes are considered creamy layer with a gross annual income of Rs 2.5 lakh or above or possessing wealth above the exemption limit as prescribed in the Wealth Act for a period of three consecutive years.
Issue of cut off marks
As far as the question of determining the cut off marks for the OBC quota selection, the government is likely to leave the decision in the hands of the institutions. It means the eligibility criteria for OBC quota students in matter of admissions to the Central Universities would be determine by the University Grant Commission.
Indian Institute of Technology’s decision
A day ago the Indian Institute of Technology had decided to implement OBC reservation in phased manner from the coming session this year.
In the meeting attended by the directors of seven IITs, Ministry of HRD and representatives of other premier institutes across the country it was decided to reserve 9 percent seats to OBC category students from this academic year and subsequently will achieve the full quota of 27% by 2010. It was also decided to implement full reservation of 27% for OBCs and 22.5% for SC/STs in the three proposed IITs in Rajasthan, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh from the very first year.
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