In a significant development, the Bihar government has urged the Central government to promptly declare its intent to include the state’s newly passed reservation laws into the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. This move comes after the state cabinet approved the proposal to enhance reservation quotas from 50% to 65% for state government jobs and educational institutions.
Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, a key figure in the alliance government, addressed the media, emphasizing the need for a clear stance from the Centre. “When no one is opposing and everyone wants the quota to increase, let there be no more roadblocks,” stated Yadav, referring to the support received during the state legislature’s winter session.
The proposed amendment bills, aiming to surpass the Supreme Court’s 50% cap on reservations, were passed earlier this month. Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary explained the significance of the Ninth Schedule, allowing Parliament to exempt certain laws from judicial review through a constitutional amendment.
Choudhary suggested that the Centre could make an announcement before the winter session of Parliament, which begins on December 4. “When the winter session starts, both laws can be included in the Ninth Schedule,” he stated.
The Bihar government had issued a gazette notification for the two quota bills on Tuesday after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar signed them. These bills seek to increase the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, extremely backward classes, and other backward classes, resulting in an overall reservation of 75% in the state.
The demand for “special status” was also reiterated, with Choudhary stating that the state government wanted benefits under special status, including minimum 90% funding of Central schemes, against the present 60:40 Centre-state sharing. This demand aims to address concerns related to economic disparities highlighted during the recently conducted caste-based survey.
Yadav asserted, “Let the Centre call it a special package, special status, or whatever it may, but we want all benefits available under special status for Bihar.”
