The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on a petition challenging the implementation of 27 per cent quota for OBCs in IIMs, other Central higher educational institutions and post-graduate courses.

A Bench headed by Justice T S Thakur sought the Centre's response on the petition within four weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on July 10.

An alumni association of IIMs had approached the High Court seeking to restrain the Centre from providing quota to OBC students in higher educational institutions including the IIMs.

The association contended that the government had misinterpreted the Supreme Court judgement, which while upholding the OBC reservation policy, had said that it would not be applicable to higher educational institutions.

The petition filed by Pan-IIM Alumni Association submitted that an office memorandum issued by the Centre on April 20 be stayed by which the government intended to implement OBC reservation in higher educational institutions.