The Supreme Court on Monday expressed its displeasure for its casual handling of the complex and sensitive issue of 4.5 percent sub-quota for minorities within the 27 percent reservation for OBCs in central educational institutions like IITs.

Earlier, Supreme Court refused to stay the Andhra Pradesh High Court order quashing the central government notification for 4.5 percent sub-quota for minorities. The apex court expressed unhappiness over Centre not placing any documents before the high court to support the policy of quota for minorities.

Without issuing any notice, the bench asked Attorney General G E Vahanvati to submit the supporting documents for carving out 4.5 percent sub quota from the existing 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Attorney General Vahanvati submitted that some protection should be granted as the counselling for IITs was on and 325 candidates have qualified for it under the 4.5 percent sub quota and their career and future could be jeopardised if they are not allowed to appear for the counseling.

During the brief hearing, the bench wanted to know from the law officer as to what to determine the sub-quota for minorities and carved it out of the 27 percent quota for OBCs.

When the Attorney General sought to point out errors in the high court order, the bench said it was natural for the high court to ask questions on which the Centre was complaining.

The high court had said the Office Memorandum (OM) that creating the sub-quota was based on religious grounds and not on any other intelligible consideration.