JAMMU, 10.01.23: R K Kalsotra State president All India Confederation of SC ST OBC Organisation apprised the media that on 27.12.2022 Allahabad High Court in its verdict stopped the reservation given to OBCs in Municipality of UP State because the Govt had no data of their population and without figures, the judiciary deemed fit to stop the reservation. Later, on 04.01.23 Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court judgment and asked the UP Govt to ensure that the administrative work of the local bodies is not hampered, the Government would be at liberty to issue a notification for the delegation or, as the case may be, discharge of financial powers in consonance with direction subject to the condition that no major policy decision shall be taken by the administrative authorities.

Similar instances were noted in the case of Reservations in Promotions as well. States like Uttar Pradesh, Jammu, and Kashmir don’t have provisions for reservation in promotions due to lack of data. Moreover, Jammu and Kashmir has only 4% reservation for OBC, and the Mandal Commission Report that recommends 27% reservation for OBC is not implemented here.

RK Kalsotra, State President Confederation, highlighted that no figure or data has been demanded in case of EWS reservation so it looks like a bias towards SC, ST, and OBCs that data is a precursor to give them reservation benefits.

Due to lack of data, Bihar govt is going ahead with a census that will collect the data for the OBC population. The Central govt should also take the issue seriously and collect data of castes and other backward classes. This way proper reservation will be given according to the representation of people.