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10 % quota for poor from general category
Constitutional ammendment bill
- Constitutional amendment bill will be tabled in Parliament.
- The proposed reservation will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation enjoyed by the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes taking the total reservation to 60 per cent.
- The constitutional amendment bill would be required as the constitution does not provide for reservation on the ground of economic conditions.
- It envisages amendment to Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution.
- The Constitution accordingly to give reservation to the poor among the general castes and classes.
- The bill will provide a shelter for upper castes under the rubric of fundamental rights. T
- The court’s rule of the maximum 50 per cent quota cannot fetter Parliament’s right to amend the Constitution.
- In its famous Indra Sawhney judgement, the Supreme Court had set a 50 per cent cap on quotas.
- The reservation will be given to those economically weaker people who presently do not avail any benefits of reservation.
- Among the major castes to benefit from the proposed law are Brahmins, Rajputs (Thakurs), Jats, Marathas, Bhumihars, several trading castes, Kapus and Kammas among other Upper Castes.
- The poor among the other religions will also benefit from it.
- The constitutional amendment bill seeks to insert a clause in Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, introducing reservation for economically weaker sections in educational institutions and government jobs.
- So far, the Constitution envisages quota for socially and educationally backward classes besides Scheduled Castes and Tribes and has no mention of economically weaker people.
- At least two-thirds of the members in both the Houses need to support the bill for its passage.
Who could be beneficiaries?
- An annual income below Rs 8 lakh and not owning more than five acres of agricultural land for those seeking quota benefits.
- They should also not own a flat of 1000 sq ft or more, land of 100 yards in notified municipality area and 200 yards in non-notified area.
Source
The Hindu