TNI Bureau: The Supreme Court took strong exceptions to the “reservation politics” going on in the country and rejected the Centre’s proposed 4.5% sub-quota for minorities in educational institutions within the OBC.

The apex court upheld the May 28 verdict of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which scrapped the sub-quota, saying reservation based on religious consideration would be a disaster for the democratic values of the country.

The Supreme Court verdict will ensure that at least 325 students who used the sub-quota to crack the IITs, can still avail of the benefits within the 27% OBC quota.

The apex court was not convinced with the arguments submitted by the government on why it was necessary to carve out a sub-quota for the minorities within the OBC. The court also wondered why the Centre did not consult the National

Commission of Minorities and the National Commission for Backward Classes before taking such a step.