Date:05/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/05/stories/2007050507631001.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Admissions issue

The editorial `Beyond the admission imbroglio' (May 4) has correctly pointed out the reasons for the Supreme Court's decision not to vacate the interim stay on the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in the elite educational institutions. By keeping the 1931 census as the starting point, the 27 per cent reservation is not based on objective criteria.

As stipulated by the Supreme Court in the Mandal case, the creamy layer must be identified and excluded from OBC quota entitlement. We can now hope to maintain the highest standards of education in institutions such as IIMs and IITs.

A. Krishnan,
Chennai

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Your have covered the whole issue of reservation for OBCs in a rational and even-handed manner. While it is good that the "admission imbroglio" for the general merit candidates has ended with the Union HRD Ministry giving the go-ahead to the IIM and IIT managements to release the list of selected candidates and to proceed with their admissions with the intake restricted to last year's level, it is unfortunate that the implementation of reservation for OBCs has got all but delayed by at least one more year.

Shahabuddin Nadeem,
Bangalore

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While agreeing with your stand that the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act 2007 must be referred to a constitution bench, the Act does not seem to involve any social justice. Rather it appears to cover some political expediency.

If the political leaders are so sincere about social justice they should think of reservation in the Union Cabinet and the State Cabinets.

Rocky Ukken,
Thiruvananthapuram

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You have rightly concluded that the issues "must be referred to a constitution bench for determination." Over the decades, the ruling establishments at the Centre and in the States have perfected the art of complicating simple and straightforward issues. And, if possible, ignoring clear judicial pronouncements.

The obstinate stance of the Central Government in the present case reveals that it is not ready to listen to saner counsel because it is looking for political bonus points.

M.K.D. Prasada Rao,
Ghaziabad

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Reservation for any community does little justice to the truly deserving if the creamy layer is not excluded. Since all parties are unanimous in not excluding the creamy layer, can they at least agree to have the non-creamy get first preference?

Koti Sreekrishna,
Mason, Ohio