Backlash compels Gujarat government to withdraw EBC quota notification

Ahmedabad: In a flip-flop, the Gujarat government issued a notification on Friday keeping in abeyance the 10% quota for Economically Backward Class in the General Category in jobs and educational institutes, but later withdrew it following a backlash. "It is a confusing notification and we have decided to withdraw it," Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said.

The notification issued earlier on Friday said 10% EBC quota has been kept in abeyance. The Supreme Court had referred the issue to a five-judge Constitution bench in its interim order of September 9. It also said that admissions given to the students under EBC quota before August 8 would not be cancelled, but there would not be any further admissions under the quota.

The notification of keeping EBC quota in abeyance drew sharp reactions from Patel leaders. Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel accused the government of misleading the three crore upper caste population of Gujarat. The government then withdrew the notification.

After a fierce Patidar (Patel) agitation for inclusion in OBC quota, the BJP government had introduced 10% quota for economically weaker sections among the unreserved category. It was challenged in the High Court, which, on August 8, struck it down.

The state government then approached the Supreme Court. The matter is now being looked into by the Constitution bench.