Jat reservation issue: SC asks Centre to submit counter affidavit by May 1

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Government of India to file a counter affidavit by May 1 in connection with the Jat reservation issue, which has run into rough weather after the National Commission of Backward Classes (NCBC) disagreed with the former.

Dr. P. C. Patanjali, president of the Pichravarg Vikas Manch, said: "We had filed a petition on April 1 that it is wrong to give reservation to the Jat community. The statutory NCBC whose responsibility is to examine whom to include or exlude as backward class based on constitution. It is they (NCBC) who have said that Jats are not economically, socially and politically backward. Hence, they were of the view that Jats should not get any reservation. Last time, the court had sought records from the Solicitor General of India to place the records and reasons before them and based on their records presented, the court today has given them a time of three weeks till May to present a counter affidavit in this case."

On the other hand, Jat leader Yashpal Malik said: "What happened today in the SC was that Government of India's lawyer, who had presented our point, before them and the court gave its view after listening that there was a substantive evidence on the decision taken by the cabinet, and hence, it cannot be stayed. The court has given the Government of India three weeks to file a counter affidavit by May 1."

Last month, the Union Cabinet cleared an ordinance paving way for Jat reservation in government jobs which NCBC had objected to the recommendation, saying Jats are a forward community mostly of zamindars. This made the apex court to direct the Centre to place before it the entire material and files on a decision to bring Jats under OBC category. Meanwhile, the petition against the government's decision has alleged that the UPA Government's decision was a desperate measure to create a vote bank.