Quota: First focus on basic education, SC tells Centre

As the Central Government concluded its arguments on Thursday before the Supreme Court in the 27 per cent OBC reservation case,

As the Central Government concluded its arguments on Thursday before the Supreme Court in the 27 per cent OBC reservation case, it faced a tough time trying to convince the court that it was trying to balance 8220;priorities8221; of providing elementary education and social empowerment by providing for reservations in higher education.

The apex court wanted to know why the Centre was going ahead with higher education quota without fully addressing the issue of elementary education for social empowerment of backward classes. 8220;Your Centre8217;s effort for higher education to backward classes would require lesser effort if you bring the elementary education among them to a level,8221; a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan said.

8220;You reach higher level of education after you complete elementary education,8221; the Bench said reminding the Centre that anti-quota petitioners8217; contention was why to spend Rs 36,000 crore for higher education for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes SEBCs if there was a failure to meet the target of elementary education. The court wanted to know from the Centre what was the primary requirement for social empowerment of backward classes.

However, Solicitor General G E Vahanvati said it was a question of priority and both of them could go together. 8220;The attempt is to balance both elementary and higher education. Neither elementary nor higher education can be ignored,8221; he said. 8220;We are doing simultaneously and it is a permissible exercise,8221; said the Solicitor General, who faced a volley of questions from the Bench.

Not impressed with the Government submission, the Bench grilled it for having reduced its share in its flagship Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme from Ninth Plan onwards. 8220;First give foundation to everyone in SEBCs before trying for higher education,8221; it critically noted adding that 8220;there is an apprehension that foundation is not visible but snowcem is there8221;. Asserting that foundation for achieving higher education was the elementary education, the Bench raised queries regarding the fund allocation for infrastructure in village schools, most of which are without basic amenities, like drinking water, etc.

The counsel, trying hard to convince that Government was committed to achieve the goal of universalisation of elementary education in partnership with the states and local bodies, submitted that it was being done simultaneously and was a permissible exercise.

Finally concluding his arguments while justifying 27 per cent quota, Vahanvati said the Parliament had ensured it did not affect the General category candidates. Significantly, he ruled out any time-limit for implementing the reservation policy in admission or in employment.