In a groundbreaking move, the Bihar assembly has passed two bills aimed at increasing caste-based reservations in education and government employment to 65%, challenging the Supreme Court’s 50% cap set in 1992. The Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services Amendment Bill and the Bihar Reservation (Admission In Educational Institutions) Amendment Bill, 2023, could reshape political narratives, making caste a pivotal issue in the upcoming general elections.
Bihar Legislature Approves 65% Caste-Based Quota
The Bihar assembly, in a unanimous decision, greenlights two bills significantly augmenting caste-based reservations. The proposed 65% quota, if signed into law, would propel Bihar alongside a select few states with quotas exceeding the Supreme Court’s established 50% limit.
In a legislative milestone, Bihar surpasses the 50% reservation ceiling determined by the Supreme Court in 1992. The Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services Amendment Bill and the Bihar Reservation (Admission In Educational Institutions) Amendment Bill, 2023, pave the way for increased reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Extremely Backward Castes (EBC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), amounting to a total of 65%.
The bills, shaped by comprehensive data from Bihar’s groundbreaking caste survey, reveal the economic and social disparities among various caste groups. The survey underscores the need for targeted measures to uplift marginalized sections, prompting the legislature to respond with an extensive increase in reservations.
Bihar’s Bold Move Sparks Legal and Political Implications
By exceeding the 50% reservation cap set by the Supreme Court, Bihar’s legislature sets the stage for potential legal challenges. The bills now await the governor’s assent, and if enacted, Bihar will join a select group of states, including Tamil Nadu, with reservation quotas surpassing the established limit.
With Bihar’s bold step in reservation policies, caste dynamics may take center stage in the upcoming general elections. The bills could reshape political alliances and voter preferences, challenging the existing political landscape and potentially influencing the national discourse on reservations and caste-related issues.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, buoyed by the comprehensive caste survey, advocates for a nationwide caste census. The data-driven approach in Bihar sets a precedent, encouraging other states to consider similar measures for a more accurate representation of social and economic disparities.
The opposition’s push for caste census and increased reservations reflects a strategy reminiscent of the Mandal movement in the 1990s. Termed as Mandal 2.0, this political maneuver seeks to challenge the BJP’s dominance and create a new electoral equation in Bihar.
The legislative move in Bihar, while politically significant, introduces legal complexities, challenging established precedents. The bills could potentially face judicial scrutiny, setting the stage for legal debates around the constitutional framework of reservations and the 50% cap.
As Bihar charts a new course in reservation policies, the nation watches, anticipating both legal and political ramifications that could redefine the contours of caste-based quotas in India.
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