NEW DELHI: Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan ’s political outfit, LJP, has sought immediate promulgation of an ordinance on the reservation in jobs and promotion for SC and ST communities to “rectify” the recent Supreme Court decision.

Paswan told TOI that the government should introduce constitutional amendments when Parliament resumes after the current break on this issue. “As we have made our demand clear during last Parliament session, all issues relating to reservation should be included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution so that there is no room for judicial review.”

Amid indications of a section in the government not in favour of reservations in promotion, Paswan said the government was looking at all the issues and he was hopeful of taking the corrective step.

“There may be difference of opinions within different political parties, but there has been unanimous support by all parties when it comes to protect the rights of socially and educationally backward. It’s not a political issue. How can anyone say it’s not fundamental right when the provision was included under Article 16 of Constitution?” he asked.

Article 16 (4) says the state may make reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any “backward class” of citizens which, in opinion of the state, is not adequately represented in the public services under the state.

The LJP patriarch recently held a meeting with nearly 70 Dalit MPs from different political parties including BJP and Congress.

Paswan attacked the opposition parties for “trying to politicise the issue” alleging that they never stood with the Narendra Modi government when it brought constitutional amendment to protect Dalits just ahead of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh assembly election.

He added that the Dalit MPs have also supported the need for Indian Judicial Services on the lines of IAS and IPS so that judiciary has also representation from castes.

