'OBC verdict is loss of face for government'

Anti-quota activists on Thursday termed the Supreme Court judgment on reservation for Other Backward Classes in educational institutions a 'loss of face' for the government as it excluded the creamy layer from the benefit.

AIIMS Resident Doctors Association, which spearheaded the anti-quota agitation, threatened to launch another struggle if the government made any attempts to circumvent the apex court verdict.

"It is a mixed bag. Overall, we welcome it. It is not over. We are waiting for the Government notification on the matter," said Kumar Harsh, President of AIIMS RDA.

He said the Supreme Court has directed the government to prepare a list of beneficiaries, which will be open to challenge.

"If that list is not to our satisfaction, we will challenge it in the court and on streets," Harsh said.

Noting that the court has excluded the creamy layer in OBCs from the quota benefit and ordered a periodic review of reservation despite the Government disfavouring it, he said, 'it is a loss of face for those who strongly stood for that idea'.

On the other hand, the Progressive Medical and Scientists Forum, a pro-reservation group, said it was dismayed at the exclusion of the creamy layer from the quota ambit.

"We welcome it. But we are dismayed at the fact that the creamy layer has been excluded from the benefits," said Kapil Yadav, a leader of PMSF.