The Patna High Court struck down the Bihar government's attempt to increase reservations for backward communities, exceeding the 50% ceiling set by the judiciary.
The state raised reservations for Backward Classes (BC), Extremely Backward Communities (EBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST), resulting in a total of 65% reservation.
Reasoning Behind the Judgment:
The court relied on the "Indra Sawhney" judgement (1992) which established a 50% ceiling on reservations.
The court rejected Bihar's argument of "proportionate equality" through reservations exceeding 50%.
The court found no "extraordinary circumstances" justifying exceeding the ceiling, despite Bihar's claims of being a backward state.
Criticisms of the Judgment:
The judgment is seen as rigid in its application of the 50% ceiling, neglecting the "Indra Sawhney" allowance for exceeding it in special cases.
The court's interpretation of "extraordinary circumstances" is considered narrow, excluding social and economic backwardness as valid reasons.
The judgment raises questions about the effectiveness of Bihar's caste survey data if it doesn't justify increased reservations.
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