JD(U) is in favour of caste-based census in country: KC Tyagi

Patna (Bihar) [India], July 29 (ANI): JD(U) leader KC Tyagi on Monday demanded that reservation should be included in the ninth schedule of the constitution and said the party is in favour of caste census.

He made the remarks after the Supreme Court refused to stay Patna High Court order that set aside the state government’s amendments to increase quota in the state for some sections.

Tyagi said that the apex court decision did not bring good news for weaker sections.

“It is bad news for the deprived sections of the society…We demand that reservation should be included in the ninth schedule of the constitution so that every matter related to reservation could be exempted from the judicial review…JD(U) is in favour of conducting caste census in the country,” Tyagi said.

He said they will keep urging the government to make the constitutional amendment.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay Patna High Court order that set aside the state government’s amendments to increase the reservation for Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes, Scheduled Tribes, and Scheduled Castes in jobs and educational institutions.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud listed the matter for September for a detailed hearing. Besides CJI, justices J B Pardiwla and Manoj Misra were also in the bench.

Patna High Court in June set aside the Bihar Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Act, 2023, and The Bihar (In admission in Educational Institutions) Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 as ultra vires and violative of the equality clauses under Articles 14, 15 and 16.

The Bihar legislature had in 2023 amended both Acts and increased the reservation from 50 per cent to 65 per cent in jobs and higher educational institutions.

Based on the findings of the caste survey, the state government increased the quota for SC to 20 per cent, Scheduled Tribes to two per cent, Extremely Backward Classes to 25 per cent, and Backward Class to 18 per cent.