The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would begin hearing from September 13 a batch of pleas on the Constitutional validity of the Centre's decision to grant 10 per cent reservation to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in admissions and jobs.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice UU Lalit said this after it was told that the lawyers for the parties would need 18 hours in all to argue.
The bench assured all the counsel that they would be provided adequate opportunity for advancing arguments and said it would assemble again on Thursday to pass directions to ensure smooth hearing on as many as 40 petitions. “Some suggested issues, framed by Gopal Sankarnarayanan, a senior advocate of this court, have been submitted.
These draft issues be circulated among all the counsel and after consulting all the crystallised version of all the issues be placed before this this court on Thursday (September 8),” said the bench which also comprised Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, S Ravindra Bhat, Bela M Trivedi and J B Pardiwala. Most of the petitions, including the lead one filed by ‘janhit abhiyan' in 2019, challenge the validity of 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, which provides for quota for EWS category candidates.
The Centre, through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, introduced the provision for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation in admissions and public services.
Earlier, the Centre had told the apex court that its law, granting 10-per cent quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs), was brought in to promote "social equality" by providing "equal opportunities in higher education and employment to those who have been excluded by virtue of their economic status".
The Government had said the new law will not be covered by the Indra Sawhney versus Union of India (popularly called Mandal Commission verdict) verdict of 1992 as provision for reservation was made after amending the Constitution.
The EWS quota is over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation to SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).