MP High Court strikes down law increasing OBC reservation from 14% to 27%
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Constitution, amendments & basic structure· Prelims + Mains·
Judicial review of state reservation policies: a GS2 case study on constitutional validity and equality.
Why in news
The Madhya Pradesh High Court struck down the Madhya Pradesh Public Service (Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) Amendment Act, 2019
Background
The Madhya Pradesh High Court, presided over by Justices Anand Pathak and Vinay Saraf, ruled the 2019 Amendment Act unconstitutional. The court ordered that 13% of held posts be filled by unreserved candidates within three months using existing lists.
Facts for Prelims
- PlaceMadhya Pradesh High Court: Judicial body that struck down the reservation amendment.
- FactOBC reservation increase: The contested amendment sought to raise the quota from 14% to 27%.
- FactUnreserved quota: The court ordered filling 13% of held posts with unreserved candidates.
- FactTimeline: The court mandated the filling of these posts within three months.
Prelims practice question
What was the specific percentage of held posts to be filled by unreserved candidates as ordered by the court?
- (a)50%
- (b)14%
- (c)13%
- (d)27%
Show answer
Answer: (c) 13% — The court ordered that 13% of held posts be filled by unreserved candidates within three months.
For Mains
Q. Critically examine the constitutional validity of state-level legislative amendments regarding reservation quotas and their impact on the principle of equality of opportunity.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Judicial oversight: Balancing state legislative autonomy with constitutional mandates on reservation limits
- Equality of opportunity: Conflict between affirmative action for OBCs and the rights of unreserved candidates
- Administrative friction: Challenges in implementing court-ordered quota reversals in existing recruitment lists
Keywords: Constitutional Validity · Affirmative Action · Judicial Review · Equality of Opportunity · Reservation Policy
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