Guj placates Patels with 10% upper caste quota

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat announced 10% reservation for the poor among upper castes on Friday, a move primarily aimed at placating the influential Patel community whose violent protests seeking jobs and college seats shook the state government last year.

But the decision, which could benefit upper caste families with annual income under Rs6 lakh, is likely to run into legal hurdles as the new quota will be in addition to 49.5% reservation already given to disadvantaged groups such as OBCs, SCs and STs.

Under Supreme Court guidelines, governments cannot pro- vide reservation beyond 50% of their population.

Gujarat is the latest among a string of BJP-ruled states to reserve jobs and college quotas for upper caste communities.

CONTINUED ON P11 RELATED REPORT, P12