SC permits 50% quota to SC/ST's, OBC's in UP

New Delhi, 11 Aug 09 : The Supreme Court cleared the decks for implementation of the Uttar Pradesh government order dated July 22 providing 50% reservation to SC/STs and OBCs in admission to vocational and technical courses in the state.A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan vacated the stay granted by the Allahabad High Court last week against the decision of the Mayawati government to provide 50% reservation in admission to educational institutions including private, unaided professional colleges.The apex court also made it clear that the state government can implement its order of providing quota for SC/STs and OBCs.The Court also issued notices to the respondents who had filed a PIL in the High Court against the decision of the state government.According to the petitioner State and UP Technical University, the decision of the government was in conformity with the decision of the Supreme Court dated July 17, 2009 through which the validity of 50% reservation had been upheld.The UP government informed that 11,383 OBC candidates and 786 SC candidates, besides over 200 ST candidates, had already been given admission and 70% of the counseling has already been completed.The government had also pleaded that the entire admission process for the academic session 2009-10 shall be derailed if the High Court order is not stayed.