The Rajasthan assembly on Thursday passed a bill to raise the reservation for the OBC by five percent now making it to 26% from 21% with a voice vote. The house was later adjourned for the day.
The Rajasthan Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of Appointment and Posts in Services under the State) Bill, 2017 was passed by the Raje government. The bill was first proposed during the monsoon session after the Gujjars in Rajasthan had demonstrated a widespread protest demand raise in the reservation under the backward classes category.
The Gujjars and four other backward communities in Rajasthan were earlier categorised under the special backward classes (SBCs). As per the latest updates, these five communities now get a reservation of 26% after the bill was passed in Rajasthan assembly.
The bill was introduced in the House by Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi giving reasons that when in 1993 the Centre had provided reservation for the backward classes, the backward classes at the national level held about 52% of the total population and a reservation of 27% was provided to them back then. Providing the current status, Chaturvedi said that the State Backward Classes Commission in Rajasthan has estimated the population of the backward classes in the state to be about 52% and hence the reservation should be raised.
During the session, Chaturvedi cited that “the high power committee, headed by retired Justice Sunil Kumar Garg, has unequivocally concluded in its reports that special circumstances envisaged in the Indra Sawhny’s case do exist in the state and there are reasonable grounds to exceed the limit of 50% laid down in that case to ensure adequate representation of backward classes in admissions and appointments.”
However, the Bill introduced by the Rajasthan government was challenged by the opposition and would also be taken to court. The opposition party Congress alleged that the Raje government was betraying the Gujjars. They also demonstrated protest in the well of the hose by holding placards and shouting slogans.
It was not just the opposition but the ruling party MLA, Ghanshyam Tiwari also opposed the bill arguing that when the bill will be presented in the court it will be turned down. Giving reasons for his opposition he said that the court had cleared that reservation over 50% limit will not be tolerated while hearing the petition of reservation to Jats of Dholpur and Bharatpur in the light of Sawhny case.
During the debate in the House, Tiwari also argued that the government was misusing the House. “I do not doubt the intention of the state government, but the House and Rajasthan know the fate of the law of the future,” he added.
He further added that the government need not make new law as the SC and the STs were getting the reservation on the basis of notification and if the government wants to give reservation benefits then it should pass notifications on the Bills passed by the House earlier rather than passing new Bills.