OBC list: Centre moves to give states the power

NEW DELHI: The Centre will introduce in this session of Parliament a bill to restore the power of states to identify backward castes after it was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, officials with knowledge of developments said, effectively bypassing a recent Supreme Court verdict that triggered protests in several states.

On May 5, while scrapping a separate quota for the Maratha community in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court had ruled that after a 2018 amendment in the Constitution, only the central government could notify socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCS) – not the states.

This interpretation of the 102nd constitutional amendment -- which related to giving constitutional status to the National Commission of Backward Classes – effectively struck a blow to the authority of state governments in identifying backward classes and provide them with reservation benefits.

Wednesday’s decision to bring the 127th Constitution Amendment Bill 2021 comes months before crucial polls in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, where other backward caste (OBC) groups hold sway. Last week, the Union government accepted a longstanding demand to introduce 27% reservation for OBC in medical and dental courses.

The new bill effectively nullifies the top court’s decision, which triggered protests by state governments and OBC groups. In India, separate OBC lists are drawn up by the Centre and each state concerned.

“The amendment is necessary to restore the powers of the state governments to maintain their list of OBCS which was taken away by a Supreme Court inter

ON MAY 5, SUPREME COURT HAD RULED THAT ONLY THE CENTRE COULD NOTIFY SEBCS, AND NOT THE STATE GOVERNMENTS