Hardik Patel’s Patidar reservation noise has finally paid off! Gujarat’s chief minister Anandiben Patel announced that those who earn Rs 6 lakhs or less annually will be assigned to a quota under the new rules from 1 May 2016.
The government declared a 10 per cent quota in government jobs and colleges for the economically backward from the upper castes / general category. The decision was announced at a high-level meeting that included the chief minister Anandiben Patel, party president Amit Shah and the state’s party president Vijay Rupani.
The Patidar community began demanding the formation of a quota for the economically backward since July, 2015. The state saw mass gatherings and aggressive protests in support of the demand over the last eight months. The government resolved to not extend benefits to the affluent Patels but seems to have succumbed to the powerful community’s pressure.
However, this decision can bring about legal troubles as the 10 per cent quota reservation is an addition to the existing 49 per cent reservation for OBCs, SCs and STs. The supreme court of India does not allow any state to provide reservation to more than 50 per cent of its population.
Haryana and Rajasthan too had earlier announced special quota for Jats and Gujjars respectively.
