The Gujarat government has increased the existing reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in panchayats and urban local bodies from 10% to 27% on August 29, 2023.
Main point
- The state cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appointed retired High Court judge K.S. The decision on reservation was taken on the basis of the report of the panel headed by Jhaveri.
- Jhaveri Commission was constituted by the state government in July, 2022 with the aim of collecting and analyzing data about the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies.
- This was necessary to fix OBC quota in local body elections.
- The cabinet took this decision while accepting a report of the cabinet sub-committee constituted to study the recommendations of the Jhaveri Commission.
- The sub-committee was chaired by Rushikesh Patel, with seven other ministers of state as members.
- Earlier, OBC reservation in local bodies in Gujarat was 10%.
- On the directions of the Supreme Court, a commission headed by Justice Jhaveri was constituted to redefine seat reservation for OBCs in local bodies.
- Jhaveri Commission submitted its report to the state government in April 2023.
- Based on various data, the commission has estimated the total average population of OBC communities in Gujarat to be 49.20 per cent (52 per cent in rural areas and 46.43 per cent in urban areas).
- The Supreme Court had already directed that seats reserved for OBC candidates in each local body would be decided as per the recommendations of a commission after a detailed study.
Benefit
- This decision of the government is expected to pave the way for conducting local body elections.
- Overall, elections to two district panchayats, 17 taluka panchayats, 74 municipalities and 6,000 gram panchayats are pending.
- The local body elections were postponed following the Supreme Court’s order that reservation for OBCs should be based on their population.
- Now, 27% seats in panchayats (village, taluka and district), municipalities and municipal corporations will be reserved for OBC candidates if elections are held.
- However, reservation for OBCs will continue at 10% in PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) notified areas. This has been done to protect the interests of the tribals.
- The PESA notified areas include 50 predominantly tribal talukas in eight districts of the state.
- Further, the existing reservation for Scheduled Castes (14%) and Scheduled Tribes (7%) will remain unchanged and there is no violation of the 50% reservation cap.
- The Supreme Court has set a maximum limit of 50% on reservation.