india

Updated: May 16, 2019 22:46 IST

The Supreme Court asked for the Centre and Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) response on a plea seeking 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), 2019.

A vacation bench led by Justice Indira Banerjee also issued notice to the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and asked them to respond to the petition by July 1, the next date of hearing. The petition has been filed by six persons who will sit for the CTET, 2019 exam. They are seeking a direction to extend the benefits of “The Constitution (103rd amendment) Act 2019” for the EWS to CTET.

Notified on January 16, the Act provides for a 10% reservation to general category citizens belonging to the EWS. The reservation is in addition to the already existing policy that allows quota to other reserved categories such as Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class and physically handicapped.

Lawyers appearing for the petitioners told the bench that if the relaxation is extended to the CTET, then they stand a chance to qualify the exam. “The amendment is aimed for upliftment of the economically weaker section of the society,” they argued.

The lawyers asked the court to get suggestions from the Centre to implement the Act. To this, the court said: “We are not saying anything on this. It is a policy and such decisions are taken by the government. Policy is not for us to decide. In policy decision we do not interfere unless we see any violation.” It even refused to accede to the request for an instant provision of 10% reservation for the EWS in the CTET.

“The CBSE published advertisement... in which this (reservation) benefit has not been given to EWS and therefore the present writ petition is being filed to make sure that people covered under EWS are given similar benefit like other reserved category...,” the petitioners’ plea stated.