38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, October 03, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

SC refuses to stay Patna HC's verdict, quashing law for 65% reservation in jobs, education

By Jhanak Sharma      29 July, 2024 11:50 AM      0 Comments
SC refuses to stay Patna HCs verdict quashing law for 65 percent reservation in jobs education

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused for now to stay the Patna High Court's June 20 judgment which set aside the increase in reservation for Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/STs) from 50 to 65 % in admission to educational institutions and public jobs.

A bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also declined to issue notice on the application for stay of the judgment.

The court, however, decided to examine the plea filed by the Nitish Kumar government against the HC's verdict.

"We are not inclined to stay at this stage...we will list the matter for final hearing in September," the bench said.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan for the Bihar government urged the apex court to stay the judgment,  contending a lot of interviews were going on as per the new statute.

The court said it would grant leave and list the matter for final hearing.

Also Read: Bihar Govt moves Supreme Court against Patna HC decision quashing 65% reservation law for SC, ST, OBC

The HC's two-judge bench of Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Harish Kumar had declared the 2023 state law as ultra vires of the Constitution and violative of equality clause under Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution.

The High Court also said the State proceeded on the mere proportion of population of different categories as against their numerical representation in government services and educational institutions.

"The State should introspect on the reservation percentage within the 50 per cent limit, and exclude the 'creamy layer' from the benefits," the HC had said.

In its plea before the top court, the Bihar government questioned the validity of the High Court's view that the quota hike had violated the right to equal opportunity for citizens in matters of employment and education.

Their plea contender the HC erroneously set aside the Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) Amendment Act, 2023, passed following a caste survey carried out by the state government.

"The State of Bihar is the only state which carried out the exercise and published its caste survey report on socio-economic and educational conditions of entire population. The state has complied with the binding decisions of this Court and then amended the Reservation Acts," it said.

The High Court, however, failed to appreciate the true nature and import of Article 16(4) of the Constitution as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court in many cases, including Indra Sawhney (Mandal Commission), Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil (Maratha quota) and many other cases, the plea said.

It also claimed the HC has transcended beyond the legitimate scope of judicial review by substituting “opinion of State” as to the adequacy of representation with its own opinion.

"The judgment further failed to appreciate that it is trite law that the 50% ceiling is not an inviolable rule and may be breached in exceptional circumstances. Based on the caste census, the government has rightly concluded that the backward classes were not adequately represented and there was a need to enhance affirmative action to achieve the constitutional goal of substantive equality," it said. 



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS


TOP STORIES

sc-allows-manufacturing-of-green-crackers-in-delhi-subject-to-no-sale
Trending Judiciary
SC allows manufacturing of green crackers in Delhi, subject to no sale

SC allows certified manufacturers to produce green crackers in Delhi, but bans their sale in NCR till further orders, balancing pollution and livelihoods.

27 September, 2025 01:23 AM
kerala-hc-directs-comprehensive-snakebite-prevention-guidelines-for-schools
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC Directs Comprehensive Snakebite Prevention Guidelines For Schools [Read Order]

Kerala High Court directs comprehensive snakebite prevention and management guidelines for schools, ensuring safety, awareness, and emergency response.

30 September, 2025 08:46 PM
sc-orders-two-judicial-officers-to-go-for-seven-days-training-for-flawed-bail-order
Trending Judiciary
SC orders two judicial officers to go for seven days training for flawed bail order [Read Judgment]

Supreme Court quashes flawed bail order, directs two Delhi judges to undergo 7-day special training on judicial conduct and bail rulings.

30 September, 2025 09:58 PM
sc-seeks-reply-from-iit-delhi-kharagpur-on-plea-to-transfer-student-due-to-mental-health-condition
Trending Judiciary
SC seeks reply from IIT Delhi, Kharagpur on plea to transfer student due to mental health condition [Read Order]

SC seeks reply from IIT Delhi & Kharagpur on plea for transfer of B Arch student citing mental health needs, AIIMS proximity & Article 21 rights.

30 September, 2025 11:22 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email