[OBC All India Quota] Selection process which has commenced for the current academic year cannot be disturbed, SC

The SC on October 26, 2020 {The State of Tamil Nadu vs. Union of India & Ors. } has decided the issue of non-implementation of reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates in medical seats contributed by the State of Tamil Nadu to the All India Quota. 

It was observed by the Bench, comprising of Justice L. NAGESWARA RAO, Justice HEMANT GUPTA and Justice AJAY RASTOGI, that all candidates belonging to the OBC category shall be eligible for admission to OBC seats in the All India Quota in the State of Tamil Nadu if reservation is implemented. It was held that candidates belonging to the OBC category from States other than the State of Tamil Nadu would not have even indicated that they belonged to OBC category in the application form as they were not aware of any reservation in the All India Quota for OBC candidates. It was held that if all the OBC candidates are now informed about the implementation of reservation for OBC candidates, the entire process has to be re-done which would disturb the counselling which is about to commence from 26.10.2020. 

It was held that as admissions to the undergraduate medical courses have already been delayed due to the public health crisis, it does not want to delay the admissions to the under-graduate courses further by giving any direction to implement the reservation for OBCs for this academic year. It was held that the High Court was right in observing that the selection process which has commenced for the current academic year cannot be disturbed. The SC rejected the request for interim relief as prayed for.