Centre will move SC on quota on Monday

NEW DELHI: The government is likely to move the Supreme Court today with a plea to modify and vacate its order staying the 27 per cent reservation for other backward class (OBC) students in elite educational institutions from the coming academic year.

An application in this regard was completed and vetted by ministries concerned after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed the matter with UPA allies and the Opposition.

The application is likely to reiterate the government’s stand on reservation, including the need to provide for reservation to the creamy layer among OBCs.

A meeting of state education ministers convened by Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh in the Capital last week  saw states coming out in strong support of the 27 per cent reservation being made applicable from this academic session.

Solicitor General Ghoolam E Vahanvati will lead the arguments on the issue along with Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanian, on behalf of the central government, the sources said.

The government has to act fast since the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have set April 21 as the deadline for announcing their final selection list for admissions in the coming academic session.