New Delhi. In the matter of increasing reservation, the Nitish Kumar government of Bihar has received a big setback from the Supreme Court. On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to lift the stay imposed by the Patna High Court on the government’s decision to increase reservation in Bihar to 65 percent. The Supreme Court said that it will now hear the matter in September. In Bihar, CM Nitish Kumar had conducted a caste survey when he was in government with Congress and RJD. After the results of that caste survey came out, he passed a law in the assembly to increase reservation in Bihar to 65 percent.
The increase in reservation to 65 percent by Nitish Kumar government was challenged in Patna High Court. Patna High Court had stayed the move of Bihar government. Nitish Kumar government had knocked the door of Supreme Court against this, but they could not get relief from there also. Now after detailed hearing in September, if Supreme Court approves the implementation of increased reservation, then only it will be implemented in Bihar. Let us tell you that currently SC, ST and OBC get 50 percent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. Apart from this, Modi government had made provision of 10 percent reservation for upper castes of weaker sections in government jobs. Supreme Court had declared this reservation as correct.
The Supreme Court has said in its earlier decisions that as per the provisions of the Constitution, the reservation quota cannot exceed 50 percent. On this basis, the Supreme Court had also cancelled the additional reservation given to the Muslim community in many states. Despite this, the Nitish Kumar government conducted a caste survey and passed a bill in the Bihar Assembly and announced to provide reservation up to 65 percent.