SC refuses to halt Centre quota for Jats

THE APEX COURT SAID THAT IT COULD NOT BE CONTENDED THAT THERE WAS NO BASIS FOR RESERVATION TO THE COMMUNITY

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a plea to stay Centre’s poll-eve notification to include the Jat community in the OBC list for providing the benefits of reservation, saying there is prima facie material for taking the decision.

“On going through the document we are prima facie satisfied that it cannot be contended there is no material for taking the decision (to include Jats in OBC list),” a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said.

“Before expressing any opinion, for further consideration we direct the Centre to file counter-affidavit in three weeks,” the bench also comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana said.

After posting the matter for next hearing on May 1, the bench said, “We are rejecting the request for stay.” Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for OBC Reservation Raksha Samiti - an organisation of members of Communities which are included in the central list of Backward Classes, alleged that the March 4 notification was issued a day before the poll code came into force and it was done by the party in power to garner votes. PTI