Congress Advocates for Reservation Law Beyond 50% Cap

Following JD(U)'s call to increase the quota in Bihar to 65%, Congress urged Parliament to pass a law allowing reservations beyond the 50% cap. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted the need for a Constitution Amendment Bill to ensure SCs, STs, and OBCs get the required reservations.

The Congress on Sunday called for Parliament to enact legislation permitting reservations to exceed the 50% cap, echoing a recent demand by JD(U) leader for Bihar's quota increase to be included in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

Meeting in Patna on Saturday, the Janata Dal-United's national executive highlighted a Patna High Court ruling that nullified Bihar's decision to raise the quota for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) from 50% to 65%.

In a political resolution, JD(U) urged the BJP-led central government to include the state's law in the Constitution's 9th Schedule to avoid judicial scrutiny. Congress's Jairam Ramesh noted that a similar demand was made by the opposition throughout the Lok Sabha campaign, referencing a 1994 Tamil Nadu law. He stressed the need for a Constitutional amendment as even 9th Schedule laws are subject to judicial review per a 2007 Supreme Court decision.