Reservation Quota

Caste cannot be divided for reservation in education, jobs: Karnataka HC

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that a single community cannot be placed under two different reservation categories for education and employment. The ruling came in response to a petition filed by V Sumitra, a resident of Kollegal taluk in the erstwhile Mysuru district, who challenged the state's classification of the Balajiga/Banajiga community. Justice Suraj Govindaraj, delivering the verdict recently, directed the Karnataka government to uniformly classify the Balajiga/Banajiga community under Group 'B', both for educational and employment purposes. The court observed that the state's existing classification, which places the community under Group 'B' for education (under Article 15(4)) and Group 'D' for employment (under Article 16(4)), was discriminatory and unconstitutional. Sumitra was appointed as a primary school teacher in 1993 under the OBC quota as she claimed her caste belonged to Group 'B'. However, in 1996, she received a notice stating that her community was ...

Parties in J-K slam NC govt for defending reservation policy in high court

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday slammed the National Conference (NC) government for defending the reservation policy, which provides 70 per cent quota to various groups, in the high court. Jammu and Kashmir's Social Welfare Department has submitted an affidavit in the high court, saying the writ petition is "mischievous" and "frivolous in nature" and has been filed with "an intent to abuse the judicial process". The government has sought dismissal of the petition titled 'Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and others versus UT of J-K and others'. The affidavit comes even as the government has constituted a Cabinet sub-committee, headed by Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo, to look into the issue of reservation after protests over the policy. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama Waheed Para said the Cabinet sub-committee was nothing, but a "facade to mislead" the public. "The J-K government now defends a deeply flawed reservation policy in court. The so-called Cabinet

Religion-based reservation unconstitutional, goes against Ambedkar: RSS

Amid the ongoing debate over the Karnataka government's decision to provide a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Sunday asserted that the Constitution does not allow religion-based quota. He also said such reservations go against the architect of our Constitution, B R Ambedkar. Addressing reporters here on the concluding day of Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest decision making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Hosabale said, "Religion-based reservation is not accepted in the Constitution authored by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Anybody doing it is going against the architect of our Constitution." He also pointed out that previous attempts by United Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra to introduce religion-based reservations for Muslims were set aside by the High Courts and Supreme Court. Hosabale emphasised that the courts have rejected provisions for such quota. Responding to a query about the ...

Reserved seats for poor students to be filled up, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday told the state assembly that steps will be taken to fill up seats reserved for economically weaker sections in accordance with the Right to Education Act. The leader of the House rose to intervene during a heated exchange of words between the ruling and the opposition members over vacant reserved seats in private educational institutions in Patna. The assembly witnessed members of the RJD, the principal opposition party, entering the well of the House, shouting slogans against what they called "education mafia". The ruckus took place within minutes of the commencement of the day's proceedings, when RJD MLA Lalit Yadav raised the issue of reserved seats, in private educational institutions of Patna, remaining vacant. He also sought district-wise details of such vacant seats and a statement on what steps were being taken. Education Minister Sunil Kumar told the House that remedial steps were being taken by the government but he failed to

Reservation rules: No deadline set for review panel yet, says J&K govt

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday informed the legislative assembly that no specific timeline has been fixed for the three-member cabinet sub-committee, which was formed last year to look into grievances against the present reservation policy in the Union Territory. The information was given by Sakeena Itoo, the minister in-charge social welfare, in a written reply to a starred question by Peoples Conference legislator Sajad Gani Lone in the House. The cabinet sub-committee headed by Itoo with ministers Satish Sharma and Javed Rana as its members was constituted in December last year and is going to submit its report to the council of ministers headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Reservation has become a major issue in Jammu and Kashmir following the Central government's decision to add more communities to the reserved category and expand quotas in the UT over the past five years. There are increasing objections to the Centre's move to push the reservation quota to 70

Bareilly court issues notice to Rahul Gandhi over caste census remark

Initially, the petition was filed in the MP-MLA court, where it was dismissed. However, the petitioner pursued the matter by appealing to the District Judge Court

Deve Gowda urges parliament to reconsider reservation on economic grounds

Former prime minister and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday called upon Parliament to contemplate whether reservation should continue to be given on the basis of caste or it should be changed to economic criteria. Participating in a discussion on the "Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India" in Rajya Sabha, Deve Gowda said, "The House itself has to apply its mind on what all happened in the past and whether we should give reservation only on the basis of poverty in this country." People are suffering "even with the reservations that we have given in the past and it has not lifted the people who are still suffering for two-square meals a day", he said. The former prime minister said the House should think over whether reservation should be continued to given on the same lines as in the past or "only who are suffering with most poverty" and whose living condition is bad should be given priority. "If the House thinks over and the leaders think over, this can be

Sikkim govt firm on inclusion of 12 left-out communities in ST list: CM

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday said that his government has remained steadfast in advocacy for the inclusion of 12 left-out communities of the Himalayan state in the Scheduled Tribe list. He attended the inaugural meeting of the Sikkim State High-Level Committee, established to secure the inclusion of 12 left-out Sikkimese communities in the ST list under the Constitution of India. Later, in a social media post, he said, "Our government has been unwavering in its advocacy for their inclusion. A landmark resolution passed by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly in January 2021, along with sustained engagements with national policymakers, including the Hon'ble Prime Minister and Home Minister, underscores our dedicated commitment. Encouraging responses have given us confidence that this rightful recognition is within reach." "As we approach Sikkim's 50th statehood anniversary in 2025, addressing this decades-old demand is paramount for achieving true inclusivity and ...

Modi govt firm that there will be no tinkering with quota system: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Modi government is firm that there will be no tinkering with the current reservation system in the country as he charged the Congress with weakening the quota for SCs, STs and OBCs by giving it to Muslims. Participating in the "Agenda Aaj Tak 2024", he also said the country will be free of the problem of Naxal violence by March 31, 2026. Shah also said the government is talking to both Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur and expects to find a solution to the current situation. "Our government is firm that there will be no tinkering with the current reservation system in the country. It was the Congress which weakened the quota for SCs, STs and OBCs by giving it to Muslims," he said. The home minister further said, "By March 31, 2026, India will be free from the Naxal problem. I strongly believe that. Security forces are working in that direction". The home minister said barring a few districts, Naxal violence has come to an end

Centre issues guidelines for disability reservation to ensure fairness

The Centre has issued comprehensive guidelines to streamline reservation and identification of posts for persons with at least 40 per cent disabilities, mandating periodic identification of such posts and formation of committees to assess them. The guidelines also state that if a post is deemed suitable for them, all subsequent promotional posts will also be reserved for persons with disabilities. The guidelines are in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. The move comes after the Delhi High Court flagged inconsistencies in implementation of the the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 and criticised entities like the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for unauthorised actions in identifying posts. The high court earlier this month observed that KVS had overstepped its authority by independently identifying posts for PwBDs and highlighted inconsistencies in the understanding of the Act among various departments. The court mandated the

PM Modi, Shah spreading lies that Rahul is against reservation: Priyanka

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Amit Shah of spreading lies about her brother Rahul Gandhi that he is against reservation. She said these leaders are scared of Rahul Gandhi because he wants a caste census to be conducted in the country. Addressing a poll rally in the temple town of Shirdi in Ahilyanagar district of Maharashtra, she said projects worth Rs 10 lakh crore were snatched away from Maharashtra. "All of us are proud of Maharashtra. But in this land, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is being insulted...you people are being insulted. All these leaders, including Modi ji, take his (Shivaji Maharaj) name, but they do not respect him," Gandhi alleged. PM laid a foundation for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue but later stopped the work, she said, apparently referring to the warrior king's proposed memorial in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai. "The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj outside Parliame

No one can remove reservation: Kharge reacts to PM Modi's allegation

PM Modi had accused the party of consistently opposing reservation policies and alleged that Congress has the aim to weaken the rights of these groups

No reservation to Muslim candidates in admissions or recruitment: AMU

The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has denied claims that it extends reservation on religious grounds to Muslim candidates in admissions and recruitment, asserting that it has no such system in place. The university said this in a statement on Monday, days after the Supreme Court held that the legal question over the AMU's minority status would be decided by a new bench and overruled a 1967 judgment that said the university cannot be considered a minority institution since it was created by a central law. AMU officials have been denying for the last three days claims that a system of reservation of seats for Muslims is being implemented in student admissions and employment of staff at the university. "The Aligarh Muslim University gives no reservation to Muslim candidates either in admissions in different courses offered by the university or in the recruitment, as has been reported by some media outlets, after the recent judgement of the seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court of ..

MP cabinet approves 35% reservation for women in all state govt services

Dy CM Shukla also highlighted that the Regional Industrial Conclave held in Rewa was quite a successful event and around 4,000 investors and businessmen participated in the conclave

Congress will snatch tribals reservation, give it to its vote bank: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused Congress of making attempts to snatch reservations meant for tribals and hand them over to its "vote bank". Addressing an election rally in Chaibasa in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, the PM said he worships those who have been rejected by the others. "Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar has ensured the provision of reservation to protect tribal rights but Nehru-ji had opposed it. The Gandhi family opposed reservation till they were in control of power post-Nehru. Now once again they have openly announced that they will scrap reservations for tribals. They will snatch tribal reservations and hand it over to their vote bank," he said. "They (Congress) have devised one more strategy. They are declaring schools, colleges and universities as minority institutions. By this, the reservation of tribals, Dalits and backward is being stopped. Beware of this conspiracy by Congress," he added. He alleged that the JMM-led ruling coalition in the state

Mayawati accuses BJP and Congress of undermining Dalit reservation

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday accused the BJP and the Congress of attempting to alter reservation policies for Dalits in states governed by them, claiming these changes threaten the unity and rights of marginalised communities. The four-time former Uttar Pradesh chief minister took to social media to express concern over the "new system" of sub-reservation for Dalits implemented by the BJP government in Haryana and the Congress governments in Telangana and Karnataka. "This hurried implementation of sub-reservation is part of a continued conspiracy to render reservation ineffective and inactive," the BSP chief alleged She claimed that both the BJP and the Congress are alike and dubbed them as "casteist" "The active engagement of casteist parties, which oppose reservation and threaten the unity of millions of oppressed and neglected Dalits, proves that the BJP and Congress are two sides of the same coin. Their actions pose a greater threat to society and the ...

Maintain reservation roster for policy implementation: Rly Board to zones

The Railway Board has advised all 17 railway zones and its public sector undertakings to properly maintain reservation roasters of SCs, STs and OBCs so that its effective implementation can be ensured. In a written communication dated October 18 to the general managers of all the zones and the heads of the public sector undertakings as well as autonomous bodies, the board's Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar said that during the sitting of the Parliamentary Committee on Backward Classes held on September 9, the issue of proper implementation of reservation rules and maintenance of reservation rosters in the railways, particularly in its PSUs, were raised by various members. "These issues have also been raised earlier by the National Commission for Backward Classes during meetings or hearings held," he wrote. Kumar added that on May 3, the board emphasized all railway zones to ensure the proper implementation of extant reservation policies and the maintenance of reservation rosters both i

NCBC suggests inclusion of many Maharashtra communities in central OBC list

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended the inclusion of several communities from Maharashtra into the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). In an advisory to the government issued on Wednesday, the NCBC proposed adding communities such as Lodh, Lodha, Lodhi; Badgujar; Suryavanshi Gujar; Leve Gujar, Reve Gujar, Reva Gujar; Dangari; Bhoyar, Pawar; and Kapewar, among others. The decision followed hearings held by the NCBC's two-member bench, comprising chairperson Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and member Bhuvan Bhushan Kamal, a statement said. These hearings took place in Mumbai on October 17, 2023, and July 26, 2024. After thorough deliberations, the commission submitted its advice to the Union government on October 8, 2024, for the inclusion of these castes under the OBC category for Maharashtra, it said. The inclusion of these groups in the Central List of OBCs would entitle them to benefits, including reservations in educational institutions and ...

Maha dy speaker Narhari Sitaram jumps from building, saved by safety net

Narhari Sitaram Zirwal's drastic action came amidst ongoing protests by the Dhangar community in Maharashtra, who are demanding Scheduled Tribe reservations

Maratha quota: Jarange plans show of unity at Dussehra rally in Beed

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday appealed to the people, including the poor and needy, to converge in a show of unity at the Dussehra rally to be held at Narayangad in Maharashtra's Beed district. Dussehra will be celebrated on October 12 this year. Jarange also said he will speak at the rally, which would be attended by the Maratha community people and farmers, but there will no politics at the event. He was speaking to reporters at a private hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where he is currently undergoing treatment after ending his fast over the demand for OBC quota for the Maratha community. Jarange sat on a hunger strike on September 17, his sixth in a year, to demand reservation to the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. He called it off on September 25, citing pleas from members of the Maratha community to withdraw his protest. In February this year, the Maharashtra legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 per cen