The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that seats remaining vacant after the implementation of 27 per cent Other Backward Classes quota in central educational institutions will have to be allotted to the general category by the end of this month and that there cannot be any carry forward.
The direction by a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan came when it disagreed with the Centre's stand that the unfilled OBC seats can be accumulated for three years before being allotted to the general category.
"The vacant seats cannot be filled in a staggered manner," the Bench said, adding "how can educational seats be carried forward".
Solicitor General G E Vahanvati said the Centre