Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 27

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the Haryana government’s move to provide reservations to Jats and four other castes under the specially backward class (SBC) category in the state. Four notifications in this regard were issued by the state government for reservation in admissions and recruitment.

Taking up the matter, the Division Bench headed by Justice Satish Kumar Mittal also admitted the petitions for regular hearing. The orders came during the hearing of a bunch of petitions filed by Murari Lal and others through senior advocate Vijay Kumar Jindal, Mukesh Verma and other counsel against the inclusion of Jats and four other castes in the SBC category for providing reservation in government jobs.

The development is significant as the Supreme Court has already rejected the recommendations of the State Backward Commission providing quota to Jats. The orders were issued nearly a week after the High Court asked the Haryana government to come out with a definite reply on its move to provide reservation to Jats under the SBC category in the state.

As the case came for resumed hearing, the state government made attempts to differentiate the case in hand from the matter already decided by the Supreme Court. The Bench was told that the Supreme Court judgment was in a different context and a review dismissed by the apex court was with regard to admissions.

Counsel for the petitioners on a previous date of hearing had informed the Bench that the SC has already rejected the recommendations by the Haryana State Backward Class Commission headed by Justice KC Gupta favoring a quota for Jats. Despite the setting aside of the commission’s report by the apex court, the state government was still giving reservation to Jats in jobs advertised by the state government. Counsel also produced a copy of a recently issued advertisement by the Haryana government for providing reservation to Jats under the SBC category.

What petitioner said in court

Despite the setting aside of the commission’s report by the apex court, the state government was still giving reservation to Jats in jobs advertised by the state government. Counsel also produced a copy of a recently issued advertisement by the Haryana government for providing reservation to Jats under the SBC category.