Left welcomes quota verdict; seeks action

The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Thursday welcomed the judgment of the Supreme Court, upholding 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in Central educational institutions and asked the government to take immediate steps to implement the quota from the coming academic year.

"The Politburo of the CPI-M welcomes the judgment of the Supreme Court upholding the law passed for 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in educational institutions run by the Central government," the party said in a statement in New Delhi.

It also welcomed the court decision to exclude the creamy layer in the OBCs from the quota.

"The CPI-M has consistently advocated reservation of 27 per cent of OBCs and excluding the affluent sections so that the really deserving get the benefits of the quota," it said.

"The Central government should take immediate steps to implement the reservation from the forthcoming academic year," it added.

The Forward Bloc also welcomed the Supreme Court order.

"We welcome the decision of the apex court and would ask the government to implement the quota at the earliest possible opportunity," said Debabrata Biswas, general secretary of the Forward Bloc.