RAIPUR: C’Grah CM Bhupesh Baghel welcomed the stay issued by the Supreme Court on the HC order to declare the state government’s move of allocating 58 percent reservation as ‘unconstitutional’.
Welcoming the decision, Baghel said,” If the governor signs the new bill pending in Rajbhavan then only the right justice will be given. We all welcome the decision of the Supreme Court to stay the order of the High Court and 58% reservation”. He further added,” But I struggle against the conspiracy of BJP against the youth of Chhattisgarh will continue if the government signs the new bill then only the right justice will be given we will fight and win.”
The Baghel administration in 2011 had increased the quota in government jobs and seats in state-run educational institutions to 58% from 50%. Under the revised provisions, the increased the quota in government jobs and seats in state-run educational institutions to 58% from 50% for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The bench of Justice BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, and Sanjay Karol, Monday heard the two pleas challenging the HC order of quashing the 2011 amendment. The counsel for the state government informed that the recruitment process was paused due to HCs order. While issuing the stay, the bench provided interim protection to the revised reservation and issued directions that recruitments made in the state from now on would be subject to a final verdict on the matter. The set of appeals will next be listed in July.
The original law, brought in 1994, was changed through the Chhattisgarh Lok Seva (Anusuchit Jatiyon, Jan Jatiyon aur Anya Pichhade Vargon ke Liye Arakshan) (Sanshodhan) Adhiniyam, 2011. In 2020, a division bench of Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami and Justice P.P. Sahu of the Chhattisgarh high court struck down the amendment.
“No materials have been placed before this court to justify the impugned amendment brought in by Amendment Act of 2011 and such amendment has been effected breaching 50% ceiling without any exercise being undertaken with regard to representation of various classes such as SCs, STs, and OBCs in service,” it said.