Hindustan Times (Patiala)

Hry implements 10% EWS quota for jobs

Reservatio­n to go up to 57% in state; while Centre has made families having annual income of less than ₹8 lakh eligible for quota, state government has decided to give it to those having family income of less than ₹6 lakh

- HT Correspond­ent n letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

a constituti­onal amendment by the Centre to grant 10% reservatio­n to economical­ly weaker sections (EWS) of the general category in jobs and educationa­l institutio­ns, the Haryana cabinet on Wednesday decided to follow suit.

Notably, the state government had earlier implemente­d 10% quota for economical­ly backward persons (EBP) of the general category. However, it was stayed by the Punjab and high court.

The constituti­onal amendment granting EWS reservatio­n has also been challenged before the Punjab and Haryana high court and the Supreme Court.

While the central government has made families having annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh eligible for the quota, the Haryana cabinet decided to give EWS quota to those having family income of less than Rs 6 lakh.

The state government had earlier fixed Rs 2.50 lakh as the minimum annual income for grant of reservatio­n under the EBP category.

Haryana advocate general BR Mahajan had advised that since it would not be feasible for the state government to carry on with the EBP quota, it can consider issuing fresh notificati­ons in line with the constituti­onal amendment providing EWS quota.

As per the cabinet decision, the income of the beneficiar­y would include income from all sources that is salary, agricultur­e, business and profession.

Also, persons whose family owns or possesses five acres of agricultur­al land and above, residentia­l flat of 1,000 sq feet and above, residentia­l plot of 100 sq yards and above in notified municipali­ties, residentia­l plot of 200 square yards and above in areas other than the notified municipali­ties and any immovable property worth more than Rs 1 crore will not qualify for EWS

reservatio­n. The income and assets of the families would be required to be certified by an officer of the rank of tehsildar and the officer will do the same after carefully verifying all relevant documents as prescribed in the instructio­ns issued by the chief secretary and the evenue department

QUOTA MAZE

The state government provides 20% reservatio­n to scheduled castes (SCs), 37% for backward classes (BCs) and 10% for economical­ly backward persons

(EBPs) of the general category.

There are three categories for backward classes — 71 castes under BC (A) have 16% reservatio­n, six castes under BC (B) have 11% reservatio­n and six castes, including Jats under the newly created BC (C), 10% reservatio­n for Class 3 and 4 jobs.

The quota for Class 1 and 2 jobs for BC (A) is 11%, for BC (B) and BC (C), it is 6% each. There is a 10% reservatio­n for the economical­ly backward of the general category. The 10 % quota for six castes, including Jats, was ordered to be kept in abeyance by

the HC and the 10% EBP quota was also stayed by the high court.

The Congress government had re-constitute­d Haryana Backwards Classes Commission (HBCC) to look into the demands of Jats, Jat Sikhs, Rors, Tyagis and Bishnois. The HBCC had recommende­d 10% reservatio­n for five castes under special backward class (SBC) category, which was implemente­d by the government.

However, the SBC quota was stayed by the high court on July 27, 2015.

Following violence during the

Jat quota stir in February 2016, the BJP government brought a bill in the Haryana assembly for 10% reservatio­n in government jobs and educationa­l institutio­ns to Jats and five other castes.

The Act was notified on May 12, 2016. In September 2017, the high court ordered the Act be kept in abeyance till the HBCC determines the extent and quantum of reservatio­n in jobs and educationa­l institutio­ns. The matter is pending since the HBCC has not submitted its report due to the orders of the Supreme Court.

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