In connection to the Supreme Court’s March 17 verdict, a high profile Jat delegation called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who assured the community leaders that his government would try to find a solution within the legal framework.
The Modi Government on Wednesday filed the review petition saying the Centre has a duty to take affirmative action under Article 16(4) of the Constitution to include Jats in the central OBC list and extend them reservation in educational institutions and jobs.
The review petition said that the apex court has relied on the report of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to quash the Centre’s decision granting OBC status to Jats. It said, neither issuance of the notification close to elections nor the negative report of the NCBC could be grounds to set aside the Centre’s decision granting OBC status to Jats.
The government’s plea further said the test laid down by the apex court in the Mandal judgement for determination of “social, educational and economic backwardness” of Jats had been complied with.
While striking down the controversial decision taken by the UPA government on the eve of general elections last year, the Supreme Court had said grant of reservation to the Jat community in jobs and educational institutions is a reflection of negative and retrograde governance.
So far, the Jats were included in the central list OBCs for getting reservation in states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar and Union Territory of Delhi.