Sports on OBC reservation, Constitution Amendment Bill passed in Lok Sabha, Opposition also supports

New Delhi, 09 August 2021 Monday

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar introduced the Constitution (18th) Amendment Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha, which was passed unanimously. Oppositions have also backed the bill. The bill would give state governments the right to compile a list of OBCs (Other Backward Classes). Recently, the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved it. In addition to several regional parties, OBC leaders of the ruling party were also demanding the reforms.

The bill was introduced in Parliament after the Supreme Court's comment. The apex court, while hearing an application in May, said that only the Center has the right to compile a list of castes covered in the OBC community. However, the Center and the state government had expressed displeasure. After that, the central government now wants to give it a legal form by introducing a constitutional amendment bill.

States will be able to notify the OBCs as per their requirements in the OBC class after the Parliament seals the approval of the amendments to Articles 6-A and 4 (2) C of the Constitution. This could give an opportunity to the Maratha community in Maharashtra, the Patel community in Gujarat, the Jat community in Haryana and the Lingayat community in Karnataka to join the OBC group. All of these species have long been demanding reservations. However, the Supreme Court has been blocking these demands.