Supreme Court Reviews Amended Reservation Laws in Bihar

The Supreme Court asked the Centre and Bihar state government to respond to a plea by Rashtriya Janata Dal challenging a Patna High Court order that invalidated amendments raising quotas for Dalits, tribals, and backward classes from 50% to 65%. The amendments were deemed unconstitutional by the high court.

The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and the Bihar state government regarding a plea by Rashtriya Janata Dal. The plea contests a Patna High Court decision that annulled amendments designed to increase reservation quotas for Dalits, tribals, and backward classes from 50% to 65%.

A judicial bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, acknowledged senior advocate P Wilson's submissions that the matter required resolution. ''Issue notice and tag with the pending pleas,'' stated the Chief Justice.

Previously, the top court had declined to stay the high court's judgement, noting similarities with other cases and granting the Bihar government an opportunity to appeal. The high court had determined that the amendments, resulting from a caste survey and passed unanimously, breached the 50% cap set by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case.

(With inputs from agencies.)