JOIN US The Supreme Court on Monday, extended for a week, the interim stay granted by the Gujarat High Court quashing 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections in jobs and admission to educational institutions.
A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice T S Thakur posted the Gujarat government’s appeal against the August 4 order of the high court for detailed consideration on August 29.
The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, however, said the state government would be bound by its undertaking before the high court that no admissions would be made on the basis of 10% reservations till the next date of hearing. The Gujarat government was represented by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi. In its special leave petition, the BJP government contended that the ordinance was not intended to provide reservation beyond the 50% ceiling set by the apex court.
Stung by the quota agitation by the powerful Patidar community, the then Anandiben Patel government had on May 1, issued the Gujarat Unreserved Economically Weaker Sections (Reservation of seats in educational institutions in the state and of appointments and posts in services under the state) Ordinance, 2016. Social worker Jayantbhai Manani, challenged the move before the high court, contending that any special provision providing quotas based on economic criteria was not tenable under the law. The state government maintained the decision was not a reservation as such but rather a reasonable classification within the criteria laid down by the Supreme Court.