Govt examining all options to resolve quota issue

With 27 per cent Other Backward Classes quota in Central institutions of higher learning caught up in legal wrangles, Government on Tuesday said it was examining all options under the law to resolve the issue at the earliest.

"The Supreme Court in its interim order stated that it would be desirable to keep on hold the operation of this Act so far as it relates to OBCs. The government is examining all legal options to resolve this issue at the earliest," HRD Minister Arjun Singh said.

He told a two-day conference of State Education Ministers here that the recommendations of Fatmi Committee for giving a boost to minority education were also under consideration.

Referring to the amendment carried out in Article 15 of the Constitution, which enabled reservation for SCs, STs and other Socially and economically backward classes in admission in educational institutions, Singh reminded that he had urged chief ministers to enact state-specific legislations for the purpose.

Noting only six States -- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Prakash and Uttarakhand -- have so far enacted such laws, he sought feedback from other states on the issue.

The conference has been called to deliberate on issues concerning elementary, secondary, higher and technical education with particular focus on the commencement of the XIth Plan.