SC upholds Centre`s decision to include Jats in OBC

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

New Delhi: In a major boost to the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to put a stay on its notification to include Jats in central list of OBCs in nine states. The apex court, while passing the order, said, “We are prima facie satisfied that there is material to take the decision to include Jats in the OBC category.” The development comes as a major boost for the Congress-led UPA government as the apex court had on April 1 issued a notice to it and asked it furnish all relevant records to substantiate its decision to include the Jat community in the OBC list. The UPA government`s election-inspired decision taken on March 3 is likely to benefit around nine crore people. The apex court asked the Centre to bring all relevant records to show there was proper consideration of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) report to reject its recommendation against inclusion of Jats in the list of OBCs. The NCBC had objected to the recommendation, saying Jats are a forward community mostly of zamindars. "It is a serious matter and we will seek the assistance of Attorney General," the court observed. It has decided to hear the plea on April 9. The petitioners had alleged that the UPA government`s decision was a desperate measure to create a vote bank. Last month, the Union Cabinet cleared an ordinance paving way for Jat reservation in government jobs. The decision aims at providing the Jat community members the benefits of reservation in central government jobs and central education institutions as per the existing norms.