New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the March 4, 2014 notification by the UPA government extending OBC reservation to Jats in nine states, ignoring the recommendation of the National Commission for Backward Classes to the contrary.
An apex court bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said: "We can't agree that politically organised Jats are backward class so as to be entitled to OBC reservation.
"Inclusion of politically organised class such as Jats... can't be affirmed," said Justice Gogoi, pronouncing the judgment.
"Caste alone can't be the basis for reservation. We have to move towards contemporary criteria," the court said, citing the inclusion of transgender as backwards.
The then Congress-led UPA government had on March 4, a day before the model code of conduct for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls came into force, issued a notification extending reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) to the Jat community.
Tuesday's verdict came on a bunch of petitions challenging the government decision to bring Jats in the ambit of OBC quota.
The National Commission for Backward Castes which was against including Jats in OBC quotas.
The petitioners contended that the March 4 notification was aimed at garnering votes in the Lok Sabha election.
The Narendra Modi government too backed the UPA decision, saying it was not inspired by electoral considerations but a bonafide decision in public interest.
"It is submitted that the central government has acted bonafide and in public interest," the central government said in an affidavit, supporting the UPA's decision.
Seeking the dismissal of the petition by OBC Reservation Raksha Samiti and others challenging the extension, the government affidavit said: "In the present case, the advice tendered by the National Commission for Backward Classes was rejected by the cabinet for the reason that the commission has not adequately taken into account the ground realities."
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday flagged off the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' bike rally from Prag
Shahrukh Khan's son Aryan Khan has been in controversy ever since he was caught in the Cordelia C
Where Bollywood veteran actors gave their reaction regarding the death of late actor Sushant Sing
Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is going to start again on January 3. After traveling about 2800
Now BJP will reach beyond 100 in Rajya Sabha, AAP will also get a big advantage
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are going to get benefits in the R
ICC president rules out resignation
Dhaka, March 22 (IANS) International Cricket Council (ICC) president Mustafa Kamal has dismissed
Heavy rains and landslides continue to affect life in Brazil. The death toll due to heavy rains a
In the coming days, Congress (Parliament) mid-term elections are going to be held in America. Mea
The New Development Bank (NDB) created by the BRICS countries has taken a big step during the Ukr
GATE Result 2022: The GATE 2022 result can be released soon by IIT Kharagpur. It will be released