10% quota for EWS in admissions, govt jobs cleared by Supreme Court

Backing the 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections in colleges and government jobs, the Supreme Court pronounced its judgement on Monday.

The apex court said it is not discriminatory and does not alter the basic structure of the constitution.

The top court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the 103rd Constitution amendment providing 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections (EWS) persons in admissions and government jobs.

The apex court had on September 27 reserved the verdict on the legal question of whether the EWS quota violated the basic structure of the Constitution after hearing a battery of senior lawyers, including the then Attorney General K K Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, in the marathon hearing that had lasted for six-and-half-day.

The Centre, through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, introduced the provision for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation in admissions and public services.

Also Read: Supreme Court to examine 2016 demonetisation order