Madhya Pradesh governor passes ordinance to hike OBC quota

Madhya Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel has signed on ordinance to increase the quota for other backward classes (OBCs) in government jobs and university admission from 14% to 27%, an official of the general administration department said.

The move has come with the possibility of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls set to being announced soon. Chief minister Kamal Nath had Wednesday announced an increase in the OBC quota.

He had also announced 10% reservation in government jobs and college admissions to the economically weaker sections in the general category. Citing the reservations implemented by the Tamil Nadu government, Nath had said he foresaw no legal hurdle in doubling the quota.

“I talked to several legal experts and they assured there would be no legal problem. Tamil Nadu has more than 50% reservation, and no one has challenged it in court,” Nath had said.

If implemented, the proposed reservations would increase the quota in the state from 50% to 73%. While the Supreme Court has capped the quota at 50%, the Parliament in January passed a legislation to enable 10% additional reservation for EWS in the general category.