The Congress government in Rajasthan has decided to move ahead with five per cent reservation for Special Backward Classes, including Gujjars, recommended by Rajasthan Other Backward Commission (ROBC).
The commission has submitted its report recently to chief minister Ashok Gehlot in this regard. Mr Gehlot said the commission made its recommendations in light of Indira Sahni case.
The state Cabinet chaired by Mr Gehlot on Wednesday discussed the report submitted by the commission chairman Justice IS Israni (Rtd) and decided to implement it. According to the report, the quota in jobs will be 54 per cent in Rajasthan, exceeding the limit decided by the Supreme Court in Indira Sahni case. “The court allowed exceeding the limit in special circumstances,” said a minister after the Cabinet meeting.
Mr Gehlot said the state government was also sympathetic to economically weak sections of the society. “If the government implements the report, Gujjars along with four other communities will be able to get quota in jobs,” a Gujjar leader said. Mr Gehlot was positive about the implementation of the report.
‘Since the high court had directed, even if the commission submits its report, the government will not implement immediately and can only implement after two months,” Mr Gehlot said.
The state has 49 per cent quota in government employment and educational institutes. The previous BJP government had introduced a law for reservation to Gujjars and economically backward communities when the Gujjars were on war path, but the high court stayed it in 2010.
The court also asked the government if it wanted to go ahead with increase in quota,it must collect quantify data about the backwardness of the communities.