The issue of OBC reservation in Madhya Pradesh has taken the heat again

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS/ DIVYA MADHWANI / In Madhya Pradesh, the issue of giving 27 percent reservation to Other Backward Classes has taken the heat again. A big decision can be given by the Supreme Court today regarding the three-tier Panchayat elections that have been stuck for a long time. The court, while hearing on Thursday, has asked for the triple test report necessary for the implementation of the OBC reservation.

 Madhya Pradesh high court’s 2019 order:

The Kamal Nath-led Congress government, on March 8, 2019, had passed an ordinance increasing reservation for the OBC category to 27% from the existing 14% in the state. About 10 days later, four MBBS students appearing for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination seeking admission in medical colleges had challenged the MP’s government’s ordinance, citing Article 14 of the constitution and pleading equality before law.

Aditya Sanghi, who was representing the petitioners, had argued that as a result of the ordinance increasing OBC reservation to 27%, over and above the 16% reservation for Schedule Castes (SC) and 20% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), the statutorily prescribed reservation had gone up to 63%, which he called ‘constitutionally impermissible’.

The court had, subsequently, sought the state’s response to the petition challenging the Madhya Pradesh government’s ordinance, ‘Madhya Pradesh Lok Seva (Anusuchit Jatiyon, Anusuchit Jan Jatiyon Aur Anya Pichhade Vargon Ke Liye Arakshan) Sanshodhan Adhiniyam, 2019’, which had increased reservation for the OBC category from the existing 14% to 27%.

The court had then observed, “At this stage, the learned additional advocate general, appearing for the respondent/state, accepts the notice and prays for a week’s time to seek instruction and submit his response. In the meanwhile, it is directed that the respondent shall not provide reservation of more than 14% to the OBC category in admission made to colleges on strength of the ordinance which is subject matter of this petition.”

About the current situation, The matter will be heard today in Supreme Court. It has also expressed surprise that 23 thousand panchayat seats are vacant in Madhya Pradesh for last almost a year.

In such a situation, all eyes are on the Supreme Court's hearing today. The court has said in the hearing held on the previous day that if the court is not satisfied with the report of the triple test, then elections will be held without OBC reservation.

On Thursday evening, the State Government and the Other Backward Classes Welfare Commission held a joint press conference and made public the report prepared on the implementation of the OBC reservation. The commission has recommended a 35 percent reservation for OBCs in panchayat and urban body elections.

On the other hand, Congress is in attacking mode on BJP regarding OBC reservation. Congress leaders say that the state government has prepared the wrong figures.

The Madhya Pradesh government said that “soon the government will collect related data in this matter and new figures will be revealed”.