Haryana passes Jat quota bill

The Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Bill, 2016, was passed in the ongoing session of the Vidhan Sabha here on Tuesday.

The bill was moved by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal to give statutory status to Backward Classes Block A, Backward Classes Block B and Backward Classes Block C by enacting the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Act, 2016, and request the Central government to include this act in the 9th Schedule read with Article 31B of the Constitution of India.

Referring to the provisions of the bill, the CM said six castes — Jat, Jat Sikh, Ror, Bishnoi, Tyagi and Mulla Jat/Muslim Jat — have been included in the category Backward Classes C.

Mr Manohar Lal said the state government has fulfilled its promise of giving reservation to Jats and members of other castes by getting the bill passed in the ongoing session of the state Assembly. It will enable members of six communities to avail of reservation in government services and admission to educational institutions.

The CM was interacting with mediapersons shortly after he was greeted by khap leaders after the bill was passed unanimously in the Vidhan Sabha here on Tuesday.

In reply to a question, the CM said the provisions for reservation would be implemented immediately after the governor’s assent. He said a request would also be made to the Central government to include this act in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.

The CM said that with the passing of this bill, a long-standing demand of many communities has been fulfilled. He said the previous government had turned this demand into such a draft that it was stuck in the high court and Supreme Court. After making a thorough study and consulting the stakeholders, the present government had got the bill passed, he added.

The CM said the state government has not only maintained the reservation provisions of Backward Classes A and B, but has also extended more benefits to them through this bill. He said that 71 castes included in Backward Classes A would be given 11 per cent reservation in services for Class I and II posts instead of the earlier 10 per cent. Similarly, six castes in the BC-B category would be given one per cent more reservation in services in Class I and II posts as against the earlier provision of five per cent, he added.

The CM said all those castes which are not covered under any category would be given reservation as Economically Backward Classes. The government had also decided to enhance reservation under EBC from five per cent to seven per cent and a notification to this effect would be issued shortly.