Page 3 - Reservation

Manoj Jarange ends fast, vows to take Maratha quota battle to Mumbai

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange ended his indefinite fast after nine days on Thursday here, but not before doubling down on the reservation issue and warning of a bigger agitation if no action was taken in two months on extending benefits in jobs and education to the community, keeping the Maharashtra government on its toes. Jarange, aged around 40 and whose agitation in support of reservation for the Maratha community, has kept Maharashtra on the boil, vowed to lead a "massive" march to Mumbai if no decision was taken on the emotive issue within two months. Then people of Mumbai won't get even vegetables....we will choke Mumbai," warned the activist, who started his indefinite hunger strike in a village here on October 25 -- his second fast on the quota issue in the last three months. His announcement at the fast site in his Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district came after four Maharashtra ministers met him and requested him to call off the indefinite hunger ...

Marathas will be given reservation without touching existing quotas: Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said the all-party meeting held earlier in the day decided that reservation should be given to the Maratha community without tampering with the existing quotas of other communities in the state. Speaking to reporters here, Shinde also appealed activist Manoj Jarange, who is on hunger strike for Maratha reservation since October 25, to call off his fast and give the government some time. It was decided unanimously at the all-party meeting that the state should make efforts for securing Maratha reservation without touching the existing quotas of other communities. I appeal and request Manoj Jarange to withdraw his fast and cooperate with the government. The state needs some time to prepare for the curative petition filed in the Supreme Court, Shinde said. The government is working on two fronts -- issuing Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from Marathwada (so that they can avail of OBC reservation) and preparing an error-free ...

Caste survey: A political pawn in a player's game ahead of Assembly polls

Is Nitish's masterstroke a strategic checkmate against BJP's Hindutva-welfarism mix? ARCHIS MOHAN writes

Bihar announces 10% reservation for EWS in judicial services, law colleges

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Tuesday announced 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in the judicial services, and the state-run law colleges and universities. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by the chief minister. "The cabinet approved amendments in the guidelines of the State Judicial Services, 1951, allowing 10 per cent reservation for EWS category in judicial services and also in state-run law institutes and universities," said Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S Siddhartha. A notification with the details will soon be issued by the department concerned, he said. The state cabinet also gave its approval for the construction of 100 veterinary hospitals in the state, Siddhartha said. "A total of 100 first-class veterinary hospitals will be constructed in different districts of the state. Besides, there will be training centers at all these hospitals. For this, Rs 225 crore will be spent in 17 districts," he .

Women's reservation Bill to empower half of India's population: BJP

When half of India's population will contribute in policy decisions and feel empowered, the speed of the country's progress will double, BJP leader Mahesh Sharma said on Friday, lauding the passage of the women's reservation bill in Parliament. The Lok Sabha MP from Gautam Buddh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "completing" a "long-pending" work. The bill to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women received the parliamentary nod on Thursday as the Rajya Sabha unanimously voted in its favour. It will now require the approval of a majority of the state assemblies. The 128th Constitution amendment bill will be implemented after a delimitation exercise to redraw parliamentary and Assembly constituencies based on the census, which the government has said will be commissioned next year. "This bill is going to be a historic milestone. When half of the country's population (women) will contribute in policy decisions a

Cong bats for increasing existing upper limit of reservations for SC, ST

The Congress on Saturday called for increasing the existing upper limit of reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs. In a resolution adopted at its first meeting after being reconstituted, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) also called for the conducting of a caste census. The Congress' top decision-making body expressed grave concern at "increasing unemployment and continuous rise in prices, especially of essential commodities". "The prime minister's so-called Rozgar Melas are a hoax to cover up the abject failure to create, as promised, two crore jobs a year. The failure to conduct the decennial Census, due in 2021, is a national and an international shame," the resolution said. It said one of the consequences is that an estimated 14 crore of the poorest Indians are denied their entitlement to food rations since ration cards are issued on the basis of the 2011 census. "The CWC also underlines the stubborn refusal of the Modi government to conduct a caste ..

Govt to bring legislation on giving 10% reservation to statehood agitators

The Uttarakhand government will bring a legislation in the forthcoming session of the state assembly on giving 10 per cent reservation to statehood agitators and their dependents in government services. The state cabinet on Friday gave its approval to the introduction of the reservation bill in the assembly at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, official sources said. The bill seeks to give 10 per cent horizontal reservation to statehood agitators and their dependents in government services, they said. Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh and formed in 2000. The cabinet also gave its approval to bringing a legislation in the state assembly on the establishment of the Amrapali University in Nainital district. It also cleared tabling of the State Universities Act, 2023, and the Uttarakhand Private Universities Act, 2023, in the assembly. The cabinet also gave its approval to the omission of a total of 199 acts and laws including 183 adopted from Uttar

Madhya Pradesh state to reserve 20% plots for SC/ST entrepreneurs

The Cabinet has also approved 50 per cent exemption in premium and development fee to these entrepreneurs

Commission examining sub-categorisation of OBCs submits report to President

The Rohini Commission, constituted to examine the sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), has submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu. The Commission for Other Backward Classes was appointed through an October 2017 notification to examine the sub-categorisation of OBC. Justice G Rohini, a retired chief justice of the Delhi High Court is its chairperson. After 13 extensions, the commission submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, the Social Justice Ministry said in the statement. The Commission had been entrusted with the task to study the various entries in the Central List of OBCs. It was also tasked with recommending correction of any repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription, examining the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the OBCs, and working out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach, for sub-categorization within such OBCs.

Meghalaya sets up panel to review reservation formula, VPP MLA breaks fast

The Meghalaya government on Thursday announced the constitution of an expert committee to review the 1972 reservation policy in line with demands made by the opposition Voice of the People's Party (VPP) whose leader is on an indefinite hunger strike since last week. Following the announcement, VPP MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit called off his hunger strike that lasted for over 200 hours. The expert committee is mandated to review the state reservation policy by obtaining views from all stakeholders, Chief Secretary D P Wahlang said in a notification today. "The chairperson and members of the committee shall consist of experts in constitutional law, economics, sociology, demographic studies and related fields," it added. An all-party committee on reservation roster and reservation policy which had met on Wednesday had also supported appointing an expert committee to review the 51-year-old reservation policy. The 1972 job reservation policy awarded 40 per cent of reserved jobs to Garos, 40

Demand for green jobs to rise 15-20% every year in next decade: Report

If reports and studies are to be believed, India can generate 30-32 million green jobs by 2050

Meghalaya govt reconstitutes committee reviewing state reservation policy

The Meghalaya government has reconstituted a committee to review the state reservation policy in the backdrop of an indefinite hunger strike launched by the opposition Voice of the People's Party (VPP) seeking changes to the existing reservation formula, an official said on Wednesday. The committee was reconstituted on Tuesday and will hold a meeting with political parties on the issue on Wednesday, he said. The committee will be headed by the state Law Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh. A final decision on the reservation policy will, however, be taken only after Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma holds a meeting, his deputy Sniawbhalang Dhar told PTI on Wednesday. "The issue is sensitive and needs to be discussed at length. However, it should not be discussed in the streets but across the table ... The government will take a decision with the best interests of the people and the state in mind," he said. The VPP is raking up the reservation issue, which does not have the support of the ot

SC dismisses review petitions against verdict upholding EWS quota

He said reservation structured singularly on economic criteria does not violate any essential feature of the Constitution and does not cause any damage to the basic structure of the Constitution

Rly bonanza for Agniveers: Reservation in Level-1,2 non-gazetted posts

The country's largest employer, Indian Railways, has decided to offer 10-per cent horizontal reservation in level 1 and a 5-per cent quota in level 2 and above non-gazetted posts to Agniveers against the direct recruitment quota, sources said on Thursday. This will be in the nature of horizontal reservation as in the case of PwBD, ex-servicemen and CCAAs. The Agniveers will also be given an exemption from the physical efficiency test, the sources said. They will be given age relaxations -- five years for the first batch of Agniveers and three years for the subsequent batches -- over and above the existing age limit prescribed for different communities for level-1, level-2 and above non-gazetted posts. The sources said the Railway Board has issued letters to all general managers, asking them to provide these relaxations and facilities in recruitment by railway recruiting agencies (railway recruitment boards and railway recruitment cells) for such posts to those Agniveers who have ...

Sporadic violence reported in Manipur, 13,000 rescued as more forces arrive

The Imphal Valley in Manipur which remained peaceful for most of Friday witnessed sporadic clashes later in the day as more security forces were rushed in from other states by road and air to calm down a state which had witnessed bloody ethnic rioting over the last 48 hours. A Defence spokesperson said a total of 13,000 people were rescued and shifted to safe shelters, some in army camps as the army brought Churachandpur, Moreh, Kakching and Kangpokpi districts under its firm control. Intermittent gunfights between militant groups and security forces were also reported in the morning hours from various hill districts surrounding the valley, but a wary peace seems to be reigning there since. "In the past 12 hours, Imphal East and West districts witnessed sporadic incidents of arson and attempts by inimical elements to establish blockades. However, the situation was controlled by a firm and synergised response," the Defence official said on Friday night. Details of the incidents, ...

Mali community meets Rajasthan's OBC commission, to ask for reservation

A Mali community delegation held talks with the Rajasthan OBC Commission on Monday, asking it to seek reports from all districts on the socio-economic status of the group and pressing for a 12 per cent quota in jobs and higher education. "We are satisfied with the talks held with the Commission. We have asked the Commission to get a report about the community status from district collectors in 10 days, for which it has agreed. The panel was also asked to complete its survey in a month's time," Murari Lal Saini, convenor of Phule Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti, told reporters after the meeting. Meanwhile, the protestors continued to block the Jaipur-Agra National Highway for the 11th consecutive day on Monday. Mobile internet service in the affected areas also remained suspended. The 21-member delegation said the decision to call of the stir will be taken after discussions with community members. Saini said the delegation also apprised the Commission about the protest situation and the n

Solve Mali quota demand in accordance with provisions: Pilot asks Raj govt

Amid the ongoing stir by the Mali community for a separate 12 per cent reservation, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot Saturday urged the Rajasthan government to find a satisfactory solution to the matter in accordance with constitutional provisions. Members of the have blocked Jaipur-Agra national highway in Bharatpur to press for their demand for quota in government jobs and educational institutional institutions. The agitation, during which a man hanged himself to a tree, continued for the ninth consecutive day on Saturday. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also belongs to the Mali community. On Saturday, Pilot, in a tweet, said Saini, Mali, Kushwaha, Shakya and Maurya communities have been struggling with their demand for reservation for the last few days. "I urge the state government to find a satisfactory solution to this matter as soon as possible in accordance with the constitutional provisions keeping in view their economic interest and social development," he said in a .

SC asks MP to re-examine reservation for state residents in B.Ed admission

The Supreme Court has directed the Madhya Pradesh government to re-examine its policy of granting 75 per cent quota to state residents in admission to Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) courses, terming it "wholesale reservation" which is unconstitutional. The top court said reserving 75 per cent of the seats for the residents of Madhya Pradesh is "too high", and as the figures for the last two years indicate, it is not serving the intended purpose. A bench of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sudhanshu Dhulia said though the state is within its rights to reserve seats for its residents, while doing so it must keep the ground realities in mind. "The number of seats from the next academic year shall therefore be fixed again for residents and non-residents, keeping in mind the observations made by us in this order. "We make it clear that though reservation in favour of residents is permissible, yet reservation to the extent of 75 per cent of the total seats makes it a wholesale reservation, .

Ayurveda practitioners not entitled to same pay as MBBS doctors, says SC

From Gujarat HC's order on Ayurveda practitioners to same-sex marriage case, here are the important cases that the Supreme Court heard today

Regime granting 4% quota for Muslims will continue till May 9: SC to K'taka

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said Karnataka's earlier regime granting four per cent reservation to Muslims will continue to hold the field till May 9. The top court will hear the batch of petitions just on the eve of the polling on May 10. The poll results will be declared on May 13. A bench of justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna also said the decision of scrapping of the four per cent quota for Muslims in 2B category of the 'Other Backward Castes' and granting benefits of increased quota to Vokkaligas and Lingayats in admissions and appointments to government jobs will not be implemented till May 9 after the state government sought time to file its reply. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Karnataka government, said he will be filing the reply, which is prepared and is a bulky document on a batch of the pleas during the day. "I will be filing it today but the problem is I (solicitor general) am in personal difficulty as arguing before the constitutio