2 min readAllahabadJul 22, 2013 06:20 PM IST
First published on: Jul 22, 2013 at 06:20 PM IST
Amid mounting tension over a controversial reservation policy introduced by Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission,Allahabad High Court today reserved its verdict on the issue and restrained the panel from conducting interviews for civil services exams scheduled later this month.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Laxmi Kant Mohapatra and Justice Rakesh Srivastava reserved verdict on a bunch of petitions filed by students opposing the new policy wherein caste-based quotas were brought into effect at the preliminary stage itself,unlike in the past when candidates were selected for reserved categories at the interview stage.
The court also directed that UPPSC “shall not conduct the interview scheduled to be started from 26.7.2013 till the date of delivery of judgement”.
The order was welcomed by those opposing the new policy,but resented by those in its favour. Students at Allahabad University,which has been converted into a virtual garrison by the district administration to prevent any outbreak of violence,were seen smearing each other’s faces with “gulal” and claiming that “the court’s gesture shows that the unjust and illegal policy will be nullified”.
Stray incidents of violence were reported from nearby Salori locality where police cane-charged a group of students,who raised slogans in support of the reservation policy and hurled stones at security personnel who asked them to maintain order.
The situation was,however,quickly brought under control and around 10 people were rounded up,police said.
The court,while reserving its judgement,questioned the UPPSC’s “haste” in bringing the new policy after being told that it was “passed by voice-vote after a member of the Commission brought forth the proposal”.
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