Bhim Army chief moves SC seeking review of verdict on reservation

NEWDELHI:BHIM Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court to review its February 7 verdict, which held that reservation is not a fundamental right and that the government is not bound to provide quota to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/STS) for appointments and promotions to public posts.

Azad submitted that the judgment of the apex court has diluted constitutional provisions and given states a free hand to abolish reservation to SC, ST, OBC and economically weaker sections of the society.

“The impugned judgment has given the states a free hand to completely abolish reservation of SC, ST, OBC and economically weaker sections of Society which is also contrary to the protection granted by the Constitution,” the review petition stated.

The Supreme Court’s order last week set aside a decision of the Uttarakhand high court, quashing a 2012 state government decision to fill up all posts in public services in the state without providing reservation to SC/STS.

The review petition argued that though Article 16 is only an enabling provision, the judgment lost sight of the fact that Article 16 mandates equality of opportunity to all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any public office. The SC’S February 7 order triggered uproar in Parliament on Monday, with the Opposition Congress accusing the Centre of attempting to snatch away the rights of SC/ STS. Later that day, the Union minister Thawarchand Gehlot said it will take “appropriate steps” on SC’S order and stressed that it was committed to the welfare of SCS, STS and OBCS.