New Delhi: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has invalidated the 2019 legislative enactment that increased reservation for Other Backward Classes to 27 percent. The judicial decision brings the quota back to 14 percent, prompting the state administration to announce plans to appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court.
Following the ruling, Madhya Pradesh Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Patel criticized the Congress party, asserting that the law introduced during Kamal Nath's tenure contained fundamental constitutional errors that led to its rejection by the judiciary.
In its extensive 159-page ruling, a division bench composed of Justices Anand Pathak and Vinay Saraf declared the 2019 legislation unconstitutional. The bench further instructed state recruitment boards to finalize recruitment for 13 percent of positions from the unreserved category that had remained frozen during the pendency of the legal challenge, setting a three-month deadline for completion.
Patel defended the ruling party's record, maintaining that the BJP has consistently championed the welfare of backward communities, pointing to historical measures such as granting constitutional status to the Backward Classes Commission. He noted that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had organized an all-party consultation to establish a unified state stance before the court.
Accusing the opposition of prioritizing political maneuvering over genuine welfare, Patel claimed that the previous administration rushed the ordinance through for electoral advantage without establishing valid grounds for breaching the ceiling on total reservations. He also pointed out that the government at the time failed to secure the necessary approval from the Backward Classes Commission.
Looking ahead, state authorities indicated they will pursue all available legal remedies. Patel emphasized that the government intends to vigorously present its arguments before the apex court to address the setback and navigate any subsequent employment and administrative hurdles.