Baghel Cabinet Approves Proposal for Reservation Amendment

RAIPUR: At a cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of CM Bhupesh Baghel has decided to hold a special assembly session of two days to deliberate on the reservation issues. According to sources, the Baghel cabinet has approved the proposal that dedicates 27 percent reservation to OBCs, 32 percent to STs and 13 percent to SCs, and 4 percent to EWS. The special session to be held on Dec 1 and 2 will also witness the supplementary budget, sources added.
In September 2022, Chhattisgarh High Court struck down a 2012 order the state government which elevated tribal reservation in the state from 20% to 32% and reduced reservation for the Scheduled Castes from 16% to 12%, citing it as ‘unconstitutional’.
What is the issue?
In 2000, when Chhattisgarh state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, the reservation quota stood at 20% for ST, 16% for SC, and 14% for OBC. The same was carried forward to the new state. CM Bhupesh Baghel earlier in October 2022 alleged that the BJP state government didn’t act on the recommendations until 2011-12 when they were forced to rework the quota ratios after a massive tribal agitation.