Govt confident SC will uphold law on quota
Today the time has come for (the quota of the upper caste) if we take the manifesto of all the parties which have pledged for affirmative action for the economically weaker sections.
Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister
We are not against it (the bill). We support the concept. But the way you are doing it, (your) sincerity (is) questioned. Send it to JPC (joint parliamentary committee) why are you in hurry.
KV Thomas, senior Congress MP
Such similar decisions [job reservation] have been passed from time to time by several states, but the courts have banned more than 50 per cent reservation. Is this also a drama?
Sanjay Singh, AAP MP
new delhi — The government on Monday said the 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and higher educational institutions for the economically weaker sections among the upper castes was in furtherance of its inclusive philosophy and expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will not quash the Constitutional amendment bill in this regard.
Moving the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha, Social Justice Minister Thawarchand Gehlot said the legislation will cover all castes including Brahmin, Thakur, Baniya, Patel, Gujjar, Jat and even those among Muslims and Christians not covered under the existing reservation enjoyed by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
He said the Supreme Court had earlier rejected government order extending reservation benefits to the economically weaker sections of the upper castes issued by the Narasimha Rao government in 1992 because it was not provided under the Constitution. “That is why we have decided to make such a provision under a Constitutional amendment Bill. Rules will be framed under the law later. I am sure, the Supreme Court will reject any petition against the present Bill and accept the government’s position of inclusive growth for all. This law will lead to peace and harmony in the society,” Gehlot said in his brief speech and appealed to the members to ensure passage of the Bill. He said that Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution were being amended so that the reservation benefit in Central government jobs can be extended to the upper castes belonging to the unreserved category.
The statement of objects and reasons appended to the Bill said that the economically weaker sections of citizens have largely remained excluded from attending the higher educational institutions and public employment on account of their financial incapacity to compete with those persons who are economically more privileged.
The benefits of existing reservations under clauses (4) and (5) of Article 15 and clause (4) of Article 16 are generally unavailable to them unless they meet the specific criteria of social and educational backwardness, it said.
The directive principles of State policy contained in Article 46 of the Constitution enjoins that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. —