Gujarat rolls back 10% reservation for poor in educational institutes, government jobs

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government has rolled back the 10% reservation in educational institutes and government jobs for economically backward sections (EBS), introduced recently to placate the agitating Patidar community.

The state government’s General Administration Department issued a notice on Friday evening that directed government departments to not appoint or admit anyone under the provisions of this quota. The EBS quota announced by the previous, Anandiben, government had met with the disapproval of the high court and the Supreme Court, with both maintaining that the provision was unconstitutional. As President of the BJP Gujarat then, Chief Minster Vijay Rupani had resolutely stated that the party had checked out the legalities of the reservation and would fight for its implementation at the highest level.

The flip-flop attracted criticism from the Congress and Patidar community. AICC spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said the withdrawal of EBS quota was expected and if the state government was serious it should have introduced a bill in the assembly. The government had taken the step only to “fool and mislead” people of the state knowing well that it would never stand the legal scrutiny, the Congress leader alleged.