Gujarat approaches SC against HC order on special quota

The Gujarat government has approached the Supreme Court of India against a High Court order that scrapped the Gujarat Unreserved Economically Weaker Section ordinance. The ordinance was intended to provide nearly ten per cent reservation in education and job to economically weaker section of the state. One of the prominent upper-class communities, the patidar community, actually forced the ruling government to release such an ordinance. They conducted numerous agitations across the state demanding OBC reservation to their community. In order to sort out the issue, the then government led by Anandiben Patel tactically announced special reservation policy. Thereby, it effectively regained support from all upper-class community including Patidar community. Meanwhile, quashing the special reservation ordinance, the High Court of Gujarat ordered that the state government cannot provide any reservation beyond the fifty per cent ceiling set by the court. The state government retorted that it was not intended to violate the apex court order but it was aimed at providing clarity inside the classifications instead. But, the court refused to accept the argument. It observed that the ordinance tainted the actual spirit of the reservation quota system provided by the constitution of India. However, the court gave two week time to the state for approaching higher court regarding this ordinance. Anyway, it seems that the Gujarat government is adamant in their quota decision. Senior advocate and Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi will appear for the state government in the Supreme Court to defend the special reservation.

Vignesh

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