Reacting to reports that the Union Cabinet has approved 10% reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the economically backward section of the society in the general category, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief, Asaduddin Owaisi, said the Constitution doesn’t allow reservations on economic grounds.
He added that reservations are to correct historical justice to Dalits. “Reservations are meant to correct historical injustice to Dalits. For poverty alleviation, one may run various schemes but reservations are meant for justice. Constitution doesn’t permit reservations on economic grounds,” Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted.
As per the sources, the reservation benefit is expected to be used by those whose annual income is below Rs 8 lakh and have up to 5 acres of land. Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution will have to be revised for implementation of the decision, the sources added.
What happened earlier?
The government had announced quota in jobs for all the economically backward sections in the general category. The Union Cabinet has sanctioned 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions. This new rule is applicable even to the upper castes who earn less than Rs 8 lakh per year.
The sources added that the section doesn’t get a reservation now. This reservation will be finished and above the existing 50% reservation, they said, adding that the government is expected to bring a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament on Tuesday.
“The reservation will be given to those economically backward poor people who are not availing the benefit of reservation as of now,” a source said.
It should be noted that the new move has come to effect just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections which is to be held this year.
(With inputs from TOI)
