New Delhi: In a setback to the UPA-2 government before the Lok Sabha polls, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre for an explanation over its decision to include Jats in the OBC category even though a statutory body had allegedly advised against it.
“This seems to be a serious matter and we want to know if serious application of mind went into it,” said a bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam.
The bench asked the ministry of social justice and empowerment to place before it all files and records on the decision to extend reservation benefits to Jats by a March 4 notification. The bench also sought Attorney General’s assistance and will hear the matter April 9. The orders came on two petitions challenging the notification to include Jats in the OBC list and seeking a stay on it.
The notification included Jats in the OBC list in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, MP, Delhi, Rajasthan (Bharatpur and Dholpur districts), UP and Uttarakhand.
Advocate K.K. Venugopal, appearing for OBC Reservation Raksha Samiti, said that it was an “outrageous notification” issued in haste with “votebank” politics in mind.
