Supreme Court Upholds Patna High Court's Rejection of Bihar Reservation Laws

The Supreme Court declined to stay a Patna High Court ruling that nullified Bihar's amended reservation laws, which sought to increase quotas for backward classes to 65%. The state government is appealing the decision, which the high court deemed unconstitutional. Hearings are scheduled for September.

The Supreme Court has declined to stay a Patna High Court ruling that voided Bihar's amended reservation laws, which aimed to raise quotas for Dalits, tribals, and backward classes from 50% to 65%.

A bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud agreed to hear ten petitions from the Bihar government opposing the high court verdict but refused to issue notices or interim relief.

The state's senior advocate, Shyam Divan, likened the case to a similar situation in Chhattisgarh, urging the court to stay the high court order. The case is scheduled for further hearings in September.

In June, the Patna High Court had ruled that the amendments were unconstitutional, breaching the 50% reservation cap set by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case. The amendments followed a caste survey indicating high percentages of OBCs, EBCs, SCs, and STs in Bihar.

(With inputs from agencies.)