OBC Quota Debate Intensifies in Madhya Pradesh: High Court to Hear Petitions

The Madhya Pradesh High Court is scheduled to hear petitions related to the 27 percent OBC reservation over three days, starting April 27. The Supreme Court instructed a three-month resolution timeframe, with one and a half months already elapsed. Contentious points include exceeding a 50 percent reservation cap and representation proportional to population.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has announced that it will conduct hearings for petitions concerning the 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) over a three-day period starting April 27. This follows directives from the Supreme Court for a resolution within three months.

A division bench, including Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, has instructed all involved parties to submit documents three days in advance and mandated lawyer attendance during hearings. The court previously stayed the 27 percent quota, prompting the state and others to appeal via Special Leave Petitions, which were returned for further high court review.

Advocates on both sides presented their arguments, focusing on compliance with the Supreme Court's past reservation rulings, which suggest a cap at 50 percent, as opposed to demands for reservations proportional to the OBC population size. Proceedings are set to begin at 12:30 PM on the scheduled days.

(With inputs from agencies.)