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The Centre has informed the Madras High Court today that the decision on implementation of OBC reservation for medical seats in All India Quota was at an advanced stage.

The matter was heard by a bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy.

Court was hearing a contempt petition filed by the State against the Union Government for failing to implement the OBC reservation quota in respect of the All India Quota seats in the State in the academic year 2021-22  in derogation of the order dated July 27, 2020 passed by the High court.

The Madras High Court on July 19, 2021 had said that there would be no admissions into medical and dental colleges in the State until the Union Government implements the OBC reservation quota in terms of the 1993 State Act in respect of the All India Quota seats in the State pertaining to the medical and dental colleges from the next academic year 2021-22.

Making strong observations against the Union Government, the bench had said,
 “the Union's attempt to not implement the OBC reservation quota in respect of the All India Quota seats in the State in the academic year 2021-22 appears to be contumacious, in derogation of the order dated July 27, 2020 passed by this Court and contrary to the representation made before the Supreme Court as recorded in the order dated October 26, 2020.”

The Court observed that when the order was passed the union government had not challenged the application of the OBC reservation as per the State Act of 1993 to the All India Quota seats and its stand was  that steps were being taken to implement the OBC reservation to All India Quota seats in the State from the academic year 2021-22.

The Union had however now sought to change tack and kept the implementation of the OBC reservation as per the 1993 State Act in suspension till the Saloni Kumari case was decided by the Supreme Court.

The Court however clarified that the Supreme Court order of July 13, 2020 said  the issue involved in the Saloni Kumari case would not stand in the way of the matter being decided by the High court.

The Court has accordingly granted a weeks time to The Union to  indicate their considered stand as to the mode and manner of implementation of the OBC reservation quota in terms of the 1993 State Act in respect of the All India Quota seats in the State pertaining to the medical and dental colleges from the next academic year 2021-22. 

Case Title: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Vs.Rajesh Bhushan| Cont P 181/2021