Latest news with #OBCs
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Supreme Court To Hear Plea Seeking 27% OBC Quota Implementation In Madhya Pradesh
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to urgently list a petition seeking implementation of 27% reservation quota for Other Backward Classes or OBC communities in Madhya Pradesh. A partial working day bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan agreed to hear next week the plea mentioned in court today. The petition moved by members of the OBC community in the state seeks implementation of a law passed by the legislative assembly of Madhya Pradesh in 2019, which increased the OBC quota from 14% to 27%. The plea states the state government has been denying benefit of increased quota for the OBCs based on the stay given to an MBBS student for a postgraduate medical entrance test by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Earlier, the Congress had accused the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government of deliberately not implementing the law (which increased OBC quota from 14 to 27%) passed by the Congress government in 2019, citing "legal hurdle". An ordinance was brought by the erstwhile Congress government on March 8, 2019, seeking to increase the OBC quota in jobs and admissions in educational institutions to 27 per cent from 14 per cent. However, the same was challenged by the MBBS student. The Madhya Pradesh High Court stayed the implementation of the ordinance for the entrance test of the postgraduate medical exam. However, in July 2019, the state assembly passed legislation to replace the ordinance. The petition moved by members of OBC community in the state, claims that despite Madhya Pradesh having 50% OBC population, the reservation quota remains only 14%. The plea further says that Madhya Pradesh government arbitrarily failed to implement the Act to extend the benefit of the said amendment in nearly all recruitment processes. What Happened Before 2019 Before 2019, Madhya Pradesh had reservation of 14 per cent for the OBC, 20 per cent for ST, and 16 per cent for SC, totalling 50 per cent. The enhanced OBC quota has raised total reservation to 63 per cent, breaching the 50 per cent quota ceiling. On March 19, 2019, the High Court stayed the increased 13 per cent more OBC reservation, which led to the suspension of many recruitment processes. Later, a formula which included 87 per cent existing reservations plus 13 per cent reserved was introduced to continue exams while holding the disputed 13 per cent seats separately until a final verdict. In 2024, all pending petitions regarding OBC reservation hike (around 70 in total) were transferred from the High Court to the Supreme Court. Till the final decision is made, recruitments are continuing based on the 87:13 formula. This law was neither challenged in any court nor was any stay granted by the court on its implementation, the plea argues. "It is respectfully submitted that the said legislation has neither been struck down nor declared unconstitutional by any court of law. In fact, no interim order has been passed by this court or High Court of Madhya Pradesh for restraining the enforcement of the law," states the petition. The plea further states that the enforcement of the law is restrained only on the basis of legal opinion of the office of Advocate General of Madhya Pradesh by the executive and pending litigation before court. However, the plea argues that there is a presumption of constitutionality in laws passed by the state assembly, and such laws must be implemented even if they are facing challenges in court.
India Gazette
4 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"This is unconstitutional and illegal": BJP's Tarun Chugh after Karnataka Cabinet increases reservation for minorities in housing schemes
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 20 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Friday lashed out at the Karnataka government over its decision to provide a 15 per cent reservation to Muslims in housing schemes, terming it 'unconstitutional and illegal' and accusing the ruling Congress party of indulging in appeasement politics. Speaking to media reporters, Chugh said,'This is unconstitutional and illegal because in India's Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar clearly wrote that no one can get reservation based on religion.' He alleged that the decision was aimed solely at consolidating Congress' vote bank and came at the cost of marginalised communities. 'The decision of the Karnataka government clearly snatches the rights of SCs, STs, OBCs, and Hindus. Congress is only looking at its vote bank -- that's why they are taking such unconstitutional decisions... We won't let this happen.' Chugh's remarks come amid growing criticism from BJP leaders over the Karnataka Cabinet's approval on Thursday to raise the reservation quota for minority communities from 10 per cent to 15 per cent under various housing schemes. The decision has triggered a political uproar, with the BJP arguing that religion-based reservation violates constitutional principles. Karnataka BJP President Vijayendra Yediyurappa also denounced the decision, calling it a 'dangerous attempt to institutionalise communal vote-bank politics.' In a post on X, Yediyurappa accused the Congress government of turning welfare into vote-bank politics and claimed that the new reservation policy deprives SCs, STs, and OBCs of their rightful opportunities. 'Reservation on the basis of religion is unconstitutional! @INCKarnataka in Karnataka has converted welfare into a marketplace for vote-bank politics. First, 4% quota in government contracts. Now, 15% quota in housing schemes. Where does this appeasement end? This is a dangerous attempt to institutionalise communal vote-bank politics. It not only robs SCs, STs, and OBCs of their rightful opportunities, but also sends a disturbing message that merit, backwardness, and constitutional principles are secondary to religious appeasement,' he wrote. Yediyurappa added,'I urge Congress to pick up the Constitution they love to wave at public meetings. Had they read it even once, they would know that reservations are based on social and educational backwardness, and not handed out based on 'who votes for me.' Under the guise of welfare, this government is brazenly pushing religion-based reservation, striking at the very foundation of Dr. BR Ambedkar's Constitution and dragging his vision through the dirt of appeasement politics.' Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called the move unconstitutional by referring to the Supreme Court's 'rejection' of religion-based reservation. In addition, responding to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's recent remarks, Chugh said the grand old party had become 'directionless' and was now functioning under the influence of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). (ANI)
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Together, firmly': Rahul Gandhi acknowledges Akhilesh Yadav's b'day wish, SP chief and Congress MP reaffirm shared PDA Agenda
Amidst fluctuating relations between the Samajwadi Party and Congress, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav engaged in a public exchange on X, signaling a potential thaw. Gandhi assured Yadav that they would jointly advocate for the PDA, a coalition of backwards, Dalits, and minorities, from the streets to Parliament. LUCKNOW: Amid ongoing blow-hot-blow-cold ties between SP and the Congress - the two key INDIA bloc constituents -- Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav not only exchanged pleasantries on X, but the former also assured the latter that they would raise the voice of PDA together. The PDA (backwards, Dalits and minorities) was the term coined by the SP chief to appeal to the OBCs, SCs and Muslims before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. O n the occasion of Rahul's 55th birthday, Akhilesh took to his X handle to extend greetings. "Heartfelt congratulations to Rahul Gandhi on his birthday and best wishes for his harmonious, inclusive, and comprehensive socio-political activism!" wrote Akhilesh. In response to the post, Rahul wrote back: "Akhilesh ji, thank you very much for your wishes. We will continue to raise the voice of the people of Uttar Pradesh - especially the PDA - even more strongly from the streets to Parliament. Together, firmly." This was the first time after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls that the two leaders spoke publicly about 'moving ahead together'. It comes close on the heels of Akhilesh's press statement announcing that the INDIA bloc would contest 2027 UP elections together amid the UP Congress's organisational building workshop focusing on fortifying their unit in all the 403 seats of the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch xu hướng AUD/USD? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo UP state leaders, however, maintained that there was no rift with the SP. "The so-called rift between SP and us was a handiwork of the BJP propaganda peddlers who are scared of the power of the INDIA bloc," said Ajay Rai, UP Congress president. AICC incharge for UP, Avinash Pande, said: "Organisational building is a primary commitment of party leadership with its followers and workers. We have been working on all the 403 seats of UP to be able to take on the BJP in a much stronger way. Strengthening Congress means fortifying the INDIA bloc as well," he said. Rahul to Akhilesh: We will raise PDA's voice together Amid ongoing blow-hot-blow-cold ties between SP and the Cong -- the two key INDIA bloc constituents -- Cong MP Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav not only exchanged pleasantries on X, but the former also assured the latter that they would raise the voice of PDA together. The PDA (backwards, Dalits and minorities) was the term coined by the SP chief to appeal to the OBCs, SCs and Muslims before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Double-engine govt in Bihar has all but given up on proposed 65 per cent reservation": Congress' Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday alleged that the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state has almost 'given up' on the proposed 65 per cent reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). Ramesh, who is the Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications in a post on X, said he proposed three ways out that will make the 65 Per cent reservations in government jobs and educational institutions a reality. 'The PM is in Bihar today. On the basis of the caste survey conducted by the erstwhile INDIA bloc Government in Bihar, the Bihar Government had proposed 65% reservation for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This is under challenge in the Courts. The double-engine Govt in Bihar has all but given up,' he said on X. The Rajya Sabha MP in his first step asked to make the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution and amend the Constitution to overcome the 50 per cent ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. 'But there are three ways out that the INC has been demanding for long that will make the 65% reservations a reality. 1. Make the Bihar reservations law a part of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This was done by the Narasimha Rao government in 1994 for protecting 69% reservations in Tamil Nadu. 2. Amend the Constitution to overcome the 50% ceiling for reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs. This ceiling has only been imposed because of various Supreme Court judgements over the past six decades,' the Congress Rajya Sabha MP said. He further proposed to implement Article 15(5), which enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in private educational institutions also. 'Article 15(5) enables reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs, and EBCs in PRIVATE educational institutions also. This has been unimplemented in the past 11 years after the Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional amendment that was introduced by Dr Mannohan Singh's government in 2006. Most definitely the INC will take up these three issues of fundamental importance to social justice and empowerment in the Monsoon session of Parliament that begins on July 21, 2025,' he added. This comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar, where he will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects at Siwan. Assembly polls in the state are due in October this year. After the government decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming decadal census, Congress has ramped up its demand for the immediate implementation of the legislation, alongside Article 15(5) to extend reservation to OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. (ANI)
Deccan Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Cong communalising welfare: BJP on housing quota
The BJP warned that the decision not only sets a dangerous precedent, but also undermines the rights of SCs, STs, OBCs and the economically weaker sections (EWS) from the general category.
