BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • News
      • Explained: Why OBC Bill Is...
      News

      Explained: Why OBC Bill Is Electorally Important

      The Parliament cleared the electorally important OBC Bill in the run-up to assembly elections in key states next year.

      By - Ritika Jain |
      Published -  11 Aug 2021 7:52 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      Explained: Why OBC Bill Is Electorally Important

      The OBC Bill, 2021 was passed by the Rajya Sabha with a two-thirds majority on Wednesday. The opposition and treasury benches displayed a rare moment of cooperation in the Parliament approving a legislation, that empowers states to draft their own list of Other Backward Castes (OBCs), to ensure reservation in jobs and higher education to people belonging to these castes.

      The opposition temporarily suspended their disruption of the parliamentary proceedings in both houses and allowed debate and voting on the politically significant legislation. The Monsoon Session was almost washed out due to frequent disruptions with the opposition demanding a debate on the Pegasus snooping scandal and the farmers' protests.

      The 181 members, including the Opposition, who were present in the upper house voted in favour of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh) Amendment Bill, 2021 which fulfills the demands made by regional parties and OBCs leaders.

      The Centre had introduced the OBC bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday after the Supreme Court in its Maratha Reservation judgment took away the states' power to decide and identify Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs), usually called OBCs.

      The OBC Act, 2021 will have political ramifications since many regional parties, including BJP's OBC leaders, demanded states be given the power to notify or denotify backward classes.

      The successful passage of the OBC Bill will prove to be critical in light of the run-up to assembly elections in key states next year. This new act will help all parties garner support from the OBC communities in key poll-bound states, especially Uttar Pradesh, in 2022.

      Also Read: SC Strikes Down Maratha Reservation Act For Exceeding 50% Ceiling

      Why was the OBC bill introduced?

      The Supreme Court on May 5 in its Maratha Reservation judgment had observed that the Centre's 2018 Constitutional Amendment empowered the President alone to decide on the status of backward communities. The top court's interpretation affected the status of more than 671 backward castes notified by states across the country.

      The judgment in the Maratha Reservation matter had also gone against the Centre's stand that the inclusion of new clauses in the 2018 amendment did not rob the states of their power to take decisions.

      Since the Centre on July 1 lost its appeal against the May 5 judgment, the OBC Bill, 2021 was an attempt to sidestep the top court's judgment.

      Also Read: BJP Corners 74.2% Of Sale Of Electoral Bonds In FY20: ADR Data

      Why did the Supreme Court intervene?

      In May, while scrapping a separate quota for the Maratha community in Maharashtra, the apex court had observed that the Centre's 2018 amendment allowed only the Centre to notify socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs). The states could not.

      In 2018, Maharashtra had carved out a 16% quota in jobs and education for the Marathas based on the suggestions made by the 11-member Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) led by former high court judge MG Gaikwad. After surveying 45,000 families, the committee report—running into more than 1000 pages—had concluded that the Marathas were socially, economically, and educationally backward.

      The high court in 2019 had allowed the quota but capped the same at 12% for jobs, and 13% for education. The high court had said that the 50% ceiling—set in the apex court's 1992 Indra Sawhney verdict—could be overlooked under "exceptional and extraordinary circumstances".

      This reservation was challenged in the Supreme Court.

      Though the crux of the issue was essentially over the justification of the 68% reservation in Maharashtra, questions were also raised on the 50% cap on quotas that was laid down in the SC's 1992 Indra Sawhney verdict.

      During arguments, questions had arisen on the constitutional validity of the Centre's 2018 amendment which resulted in the top court's contested ruling.

      Tags

      Lok SabhaRajya SabhaReservation127th Constitutional Amendment BillParliament of India
      Read Full Article
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!