The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would hear on April 8 a batch of petitions challenging the Centre’s decision to grant 10 per cent reservation in jobs as well as admissions to educational institutions to economically weaker sections across all classes.
A Bench comprising Justices SA Bobde and SA Nazeer said it would also deal with the contentions raised by some of the petitioners who have said that the matter was required to be adjudicated upon by a Constitution Bench.
At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, sought an adjournment saying he and Attorney General KK Venugopal were appearing in a matter on Thursday before a Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
“I am on my legs before the Constitution Bench. Please accommodate me,” he told the Bench.
Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for one of the petitioners, referred to the apex court’s last order passed in the matter on March 11 and said the issue of whether these pleas should be referred to a Constitution Bench should be considered.