New Delhi, April 9 (IANS): The Supreme Court Wednesday declined to stay the centre's decision to extend OBC reservation to Jats in nine states and sought the government's response to a plea challenging its move.

An apex court bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice N.V. Ramana while declining to stay the order, said that without expressing any opinion it was directing the centre to file its response.

The court also wanted to know the basis of the order, as senior counsel K. Parasaran said the reasons are there in the records.

It gave centre three weeks time to file its response and another four days to the petitioners to file their rejoinder as it directed the listing of the matter May 1.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel K.K. Venugopal argued that the March 4 notification was issued a day before the model code of conduct came into force and was aimed at garnering votes in the Lok Sabha elections.

The reservation for Jats has been challenged by petitioner Ram Singh and the OBC Reservation Raksha Samiti.