Patna High Court Quashes Bihar's Amended Reservation Laws

The Patna High Court invalidated Bihar's amended reservation laws that raised quotas from 50% to 65%. The court ruled these amendments unconstitutional, igniting political debates. The laws were influenced by a caste survey showing high percentages of backward classes. Legal challenges are expected to continue at the Supreme Court level.

The Patna High Court has nullified the Bihar government's amended reservation laws, which increased quotas for Dalits, tribals, and backward classes from 50 per cent to 65 per cent.

In a decision delivered by Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Harish Kumar, the amendments were declared unconstitutional, sparking political uproar. The laws, passed last November, were found to violate the equality clause of the Constitution, leading to further debates and expected appeals to the Supreme Court.

The court criticized the state for failing to conduct a thorough study before the amendments, which followed a caste survey revealing significant percentages of backward classes. The survey results had driven a nationwide discussion on reservation policies.