SC cautions Symbiosis over OBC admission

NEW DELHI: Acting on a complaint, the Supreme Court on Monday cautioned Pune-based Symbiosis University that admitting students under the 27% OBC quota for the current academic session would be at its own risk. A Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayart and Justice PP Naolekar said, “They (university) would be doing so at their own peril.” Advocate Subramanaya Prasad appearing for an aggrieved student Anket Kumar, raised the issue during the “mentioning” time (the period earmarked to taking up urgent matters).

The court decided to list the petition challenging the university’s admission process after the summer vacation. Prasad complained that the university had commenced the admission process for the academic year 2007-2008 by offering 27% reservations to OBCs in violation of the apex court’s order staying the reservation policy of the central government.

The counsel wanted the petition to be listed during vacation on the grounds that the popular Pune-based varsity was allowed to grant admission under the OBC quota, it would seriously jeopardise the interests of students, since the quota issue is in the Supreme Court.