Today the Haryana State Government passed the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Bill, 2016. This bill provides reservation for Jats and four other communities in Government jobs and education. As the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar shad promised reservation for the Jat community and others that included Jat Sikhs, Rors, Bishnois and Tyagis, he moved the bill.

He moved the Bill in the ongoing Budget Assembly session to give required status to Backward classes Block ‘A’, Backward classes Block ‘B’ and Backward classes Block ‘C’. He also requested the Central government to include this Act in 9th Schedule read with Article 31B of the Constitution of India.

A violent Jat agitation had left the State paralyzed for over ten days in February 2016. The press communication issued by the government said the Bill provides for increase in percentage of reservation in Schedule I, II and III for Class I and II posts for BC ‘A’, BC ‘B’ and BC ‘C’ from 10 per cent, five per cent and five per cent to 11 per cent, six per cent and six per cent respectively.

The Government also decided to increase the existing reservation of five percent for Economically Backward Persons in General Caste Category in Class I and II posts from five per cent to seven per cent. The bill also stated that notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the state government may provide horizontal reservation for such category or categories of persons within Backward Classes.

After analyzing the Justice (Retd.) K.C. Gupta Commission report that was set-up to examine the requests for inclusion and exclusion of castes in the list of backward classes, the state government is satisfied that the report of the Commission is based on strong evidence and perfect data.

This indicates that these communities are not only backward in education and socially, but they comply with all legal norms suggested in Indra Sawhney’s (CWP 930 of 1990) case. As per the judgment, reservation should not “exceed 50 per cent of the appointments in a grade, cadre or service in any particular year. However, every excess over 50 per cent will have to be justified on valid grounds which will have to be specifically made out, said the government statement.