India

Rajasthan assembly passes two new quota bills, total reservation in the state now stands at 68%

The Rajasthan Assembly on Tuesday passed separate Bills providing five per cent reservation to Gujjars and other communities under Special Backward Classes (SBC) and 14 per cent to Economically Backward Classes (EBC) of unreserved categories. With the passing of the bills, the total quota quantum in the state has increased from 49% to 68%.

The House also passed resolutions requesting the state government to make efforts to get the Bills — Rajasthan Special Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutes in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) Bill 2015 and Rajasthan Economically Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutes in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) Bill 2015 — included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

Five communities — Banjara/Baldiya/Labana, Gadiya Lohar/Gadoliya, Gujar/Gurjar, Raika/Rebari/Debasi and Gadariya/Gadri/Gayari — have been included in the Bill for 5 per cent quota under SBC. The Vasundhra Raje government also pushed through resolutions urging the Centre to place the twin bills in the 9th schedule of the Constitution to buffer them from legal scrutiny.

Interestingly, the hurried decision of the state came a day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stirred a storm by suggesting that the reservation system be reviewed. The two are, however, unlikely to be linked as the bills are a result of a long process.
“The state government will also make full efforts to get the Bills included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution,” Home Minister Gulab hand Kataria said in the House.

He said that in the opinion of the state government, the Bills were necessary for “uplift and advancement” of backward communities and financially weaker sections of unreserved categories.

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