New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday directed the government to reply within three weeks on a plea against the law to reserve 27 percent seats in higher educational institutions for students from Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

A bench of judges Arijit Pasayat and S.H. Kapadia adjourned the matter on a request from counsel for the government.

Senior counsel for the petitioner, Harish Salve brought to the notice of the court that though the bill providing for 27 percent quota had been passed by both houses of parliament, the official notification on the presidential assent was awaited. He said whenever the notification was issued, the petitioner would challenge it.

During the last hearing the government had sought time to place before the court a copy of the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which had examined the bill. It, however, failed to submit the report to the court Monday.

The government has already announced its intention to implement 27 percent quotas for the OBCs from the academic year 2007-2008.

After the Supreme Court judgement last week on the Ninth Schedule of the constitution opening to judicial review all laws, the government's move to put the quota law beyond judicial scrutiny has been put on hold.