Increase creamy layer limit for OBCs to 15L, PMK to Centre

CHENNAI: PMK Founder S Ramadoss on Thursday urged the Central government to increase the creamy layer limit for OBCs to Rs 15 lakh from the present limit of Rs 8 lakh.

"The creamy layer limit has not been increased for five years and the central government postponing the increase could not be justified. The admissions for central government universities is about to start in September as the results of NEET and CUSET are expected on September 7 and IIT-JEE is expected on September 11 and this is the right time to announce the hike in creamy layer limit," said Ramadoss, in a statement.

Ramadoss also said that when the Central government announced 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in 1990 there were no conditions for its implementation, but it was the court that introduced creamy layer for OBCs. From time to time, the creamy layer limit was revised. In 1993, the creamy layer limit was Rs 1 lakh which was increased to Rs 2.5 lakh, then to Rs 4.5 lakh, Rs 6 lakh and now to Rs 8 lakh.

"In 2013, the creamy layer limit was hiked to Rs 6 lakh and then in 2017, the limit was hiked to Rs 8 lakh. Since then the creamy layer limit was not hiked citing Covid-19. The limit should have been hiked once in three years and considering the next term the Central government should hike it to Rs 15 lakh," said Ramadoss.