- Chhattisgarh Chief Minister has announced an increase in reservations for OBCs and Scheduled Castes in state government jobs and education.
- The government has decided to increase the quota for Scheduled Castes by 1% (at present it is 12%) The reservation for OBCs will be increased from 14% to 27%. The quota for Scheduled Tribes will remain at 32%.
- Once in effect, Chhattisgarh will have a total of 72% reservation, the highest in India. The will breach the 50% cap on reservation imposed by the Supreme Court in 1992.
- The Supreme Court in the Indira Sawhney case (1992), had held that the power conferred to the State by Clause (4) of Article 16 should be exercised in a fair manner and within reasonable limits. The court upheld that reservation under Clause (4) shall not exceed 50% of the appointments or posts, barring certain extraordinary situations
- Article 16 (4) empowers the State to make provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is inadequately represented in public employment.
