Bihar Govt Announces 10% Reservation For EWS In Judicial Services And State-Run Law Colleges

In a significant decision, the Bihar government has announced a 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in the state's judicial services, as well as in government-run law colleges and universities. The decision was formalized during a cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister."The cabinet approved amendments in the guidelines of the State Judicial Services, 1951, allowing 10 per cent reservation for EWS category in judicial services and also in state-run law institutes and universities," said Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S Siddhartha, according to a report by The New Indian Express.“A notification with the details will soon be issued by the department concerned,” he said.This decision follows the recent release of the first set of data from the government's caste survey. According to this data, Extremely Backward Communities (EBCs) constitute 36.01% of the population, and an additional 27.12% comprises Backward Classes. When combined, these groups form the Other Backward Classes (OBC), constituting a substantial 63.13% of the State's population.The Patna High Court had previously affirmed the validity of the state's caste survey, terming the Bihar Government’s decision to conduct a caste-based survey in the State as “perfectly valid, initiated with due competence.” In its 101-page Judgment delivered by a bench of Chief Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Partha Sarthy, the Court categorically held that the state’s contention can’t be brushed aside that the “purpose (of the survey) is to identify the Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with the aim of uplifting them and ensuring equal opportunities to them”.This decision of the Patna High Court has been challenged in the Supreme Court and is scheduled for its next hearing on October 6.

Bihar Govt Announces 10% Reservation For EWS In Judicial Services And State-Run Law Colleges

Bhavya Singh

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