SC seeks replies from Centre, CBSE & NCTE on plea for 10 pc reservation for EWS in CTET 2019

The Supreme Court Thursday sought responses from the Centre and CBSE on a plea seeking 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), 2019.

Besides the Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a vacation bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna also issued notice to the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and asked them to respond to the petition by July 1, the next date of hearing.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by six petitioners, who are aspiring to participate in CTET 2019 and are seeking a direction that benefits of 'The Constitution (103rd amendment) Act 2019' be extended to those belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS) of the society. The amendment Act took effect on January 16.

Under the amended Act, the Centre has provided for a 10 per cent reservation to citizens from general category belonging to EWS, in addition to already existing reservation policy for benefit of other reserved categories such as Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class and physically handicapped.

During the hearing on Thursday, the lawyers appearing for the petitioners told the bench that since the amended Act has been passed by Parliament, its benefit must be given to persons from EWS.

"If we will get this relaxation, we will qualify in the examination. The amendment is aimed for upliftment of the economically weaker section of the society," the counsel said.

The bench issued notice on the petition and said that it would be heard on July 1.

At the fag end of hearing, the petitioner's counsel said that the Centre may give suggestions on implementing the Act.

To this, the bench said, "We are not saying anything on this. It is a policy and such decisions are taken by the government. Policy is not for us to decide. In policy decision we do not interfere unless we see any violation."