The CPI(M) today said the Supreme Court judgment staying the implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in centrally-run educational institutions ignores the fact that “there are clear-cut lists of OBCs in all states.”

The CPI termed the judgment “retrograde” and called for “intervention of Parliament” to address the situation. “The Supreme Court judgment is retrograde. It will not help in the implementation of policies for establishment of social justice and equality. The Parliament has to intervene effectively,” CPI national secretary D Raja said.

He said the government should have intervened when the apex court questioned the ninth schedule of the Constitution. “Time has come for the Parliament to have an effective say on this. It cannot be left to the judiciary,” Raja added.

Reacting to the judgment CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said, “The policy of the government and the desire of the people as decided earlier should continue,” and hoped that the Supreme Court will take these into consideration.

“The judgment ignores the fact that there are clear-cut lists of OBCs in all the states. It is on that basis that there is reservation for OBCs in educational institutions in many states”, the CPI(M) politburo said in a statement. The party also recalled that 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in government jobs was decided on the issue of implementation of the Mandal Commission report. The Supreme Court had upheld the reservation along with exclusion of the creamy layer. “What was done for Central government jobs has now been extended to Centrally-sponsored educational institutions by legislation in Parliament,” the politburo said.

... contd.