OBC reservation: Madras HC directs Centre to form panel to take decision; DMK files caveat petition in SC

A division bench of Chief Justice AP Sahi and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy observed that the decisions to be taken by the panel, with respect to the OBC reservation, will not apply to the present academic year but to the next academic year.

Such a committee, comprising representatives from the Centre, state and Medical Council of India should be constituted within three months, the court said while passing the order on a batch of petitions moved by the Tamil Nadu government, DMK, AIADMK, PMK and other political parties, challenging the Centre''s decision to not to provide OBC quota in AIQ seats for medical admission.

The court observed that there were no legal restrictions in providing OBC reservation in the all-India quota seats but said that it would not interfere in the government's policy matters, except in cases where fundamental rights were in question.

The political parties moved the High Court after the Apex Court had declined to hear their pleas and asked them to approach the High Court on the matter. The parties sought the Centre to provide 50 per cent reservation for Backward and Other Backward Classes, 18 per cent for SCs and one per cent for STs in medical admissions. Ramadoss, whose party is a constituent of the BJP-led NDA, hailed the court verdict and appealed to the state government not to appeal against it.

Refusing to accept the MCI's contention that only the Apex Court to take a decision on the matter, the Bench also made it clear that any decision made by the panel would be applicable only from the next academic year.

Read Also: OBC quota in TN share of AIQ Medical seats: Madras HC to pronounce orders on July 27

Now, a day after HC direction, the DMK filed a caveat petition in the Supreme Court in connection with reservation for OBC students in medical studies, reports NewstodayNet

This comes after the Supreme Court asked the Madras High Court to decide on merits, a batch of petitions seeking 50 per cent reservation for OBC students in seats shared by the State in the All India Quota of medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, reports ANI.

The ruling AIADMK was "thankfully welcoming" the verdict, top party leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami said in a statement. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Palaniswami is the party''s Co-Coordinator while his deputy Panneerselvam is Coordinator. DMK and its allies resolved that the Centre should immediately constitute the committee as asked by the court, within three months, to look into reservation for medical aspirants.

Ruling AIADMK''S ally, the PMK, too welcomed the court verdict and the party''s founder Dr S Ramadoss termed the order as ''significant progress'' on the issue and a victory for the party''s fight for social justice. Panneerselvam and Palaniswami said the verdict proved that the party was walking the path of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, whom they described as someone who "protected social justice."

"We see this verdict as a reward to AIADMK''s ideology of establishing social justice in Tamil Nadu and tirelessly work for the betterment of all sections of people," the two leaders said. At an opposition DMK convened meeting of its allies on Monday, the constituents welcomed "the historic judgement and said "it shows that Tamil Nadu will be in the forefront of implementing social justice." A resolution passed at the meeting, chaired by DMK President M K Stalin, called upon the Centre to set up a committee as the court has ordered, within three months, to look into reservation for medical aspirants.

The PMK leader urged the Centre to immediately form a panel to decide on the all-India quota for OBC students for medical admission, as per the Madras High Court direction. BJP state president L Murugan said his party welcomed the court order. "It gives us joy that the verdict has been delivered based on Centre''s submission," he said to PTI

Read Also: OBC quota under AIQ medical seats only for central institutes: Centre