Supreme Court Issues Notice to Bihar Over Reservation Amendments

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Bihar Government on an RJD plea challenging the Patna High Court's decision to overturn amendments increasing reservations for Backward Classes, Scheduled Tribes, and Scheduled Castes in jobs and education. The case was tagged with a similar petition and will be reviewed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud's bench.

The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to the Bihar Government and others following a plea by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) challenging the Patna High Court's order. The High Court had set aside the state government's amendments that aimed to increase reservations for Backward Classes, Scheduled Tribes, and Scheduled Castes in jobs and educational institutions.

This plea has been tagged with another similar petition. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, will review the matter.

On June 20, the Patna High Court declared the Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Act, 2023, and the Bihar Reservation (in Admission to Educational Institutions) Amendment Act, 2023, unconstitutional, citing they violated Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution. The amendments sought to increase reservations from 50% to 65% based on caste survey findings. The state government, then part of the Mahagathbandhan alliance, comprising JD(U), RJD, and the Congress party, filed an appeal through advocate Manish Kumar.

(With inputs from agencies.)