NEW DELHI, Dec 9: The Indian government says it plans to defy the Supreme Court and press ahead with a controversial measure to reserve private college places for students from low-caste or poor backgrounds.

The announcement late on Thursday by the Congress-led ruling coalition could set the stage for a clash with the country’s highest court, legal experts said.

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the state could not order private colleges to reserve places for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. But the government refused to accept the ruling.

“The proposed law is not meant to question the Supreme Court but to protect the rights of students who are socially and backward,” Information Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said.

“The parliament is supreme to legislate,” he said.

The information minister said the decision to go ahead with the proposed law stemmed from universal demand. It will require a constitutional amendment to become law.—AFP