Ram Vilas Paswan Said, Government Brought Ordinance On SC-ST Reservation

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has said that the government brought an ordinance to rectify the recent Supreme Court ruling on reservation for SC-ST community in jobs. Also, to keep it separate from judicial review, the government should include all such issues in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. The Union Minister said that the government is considering filing a review petition against the verdict of the apex court and is seeking legal opinion on it.

Paswan said, “A review petition will be filed, but the issue will again go to court.” It should be seen whether it will be successful or not, so I think the easiest way is to amend the constitution after issuing the ordinance. The leader of the Lok Janshakti Party made this remark in the context of the political storm that arose following the recent Supreme Court decision. The court has ruled that states are not obliged to provide reservation to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in appointments. Claiming the quota in promotions is not a basic right.

Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Paswan said, ‘The Supreme Court says that reservation in jobs is dependent on the state government and is not a basic right. People object that it is against the interests of SC and ST. Paswan accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of doing politics on the issue.

Meanwhile, a senior government official said that the ordinance can be brought when the Parliament is not in session. If the government wants to bring the ordinance even in the period of brief period of the ongoing session, then one of the two houses should be adjourned (indefinitely). The House adjourned for the purpose may be reinstated as soon as the President signs the ordinance. There are many examples of this. The ordinance period is six months. At the beginning of the session, it should be made into law in six weeks, otherwise it will be neutralized.