Madhya Pradesh

• 18 Feb 2022

Stay on 27 Percent OBC Reservation in MPPSC Exam

Why in News

• Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has stayed the 27 percent reservation of Backward Classes (OBC) in the MPPSC exam.

Key Points

• The High Court, while issuing notices to the Madhya Pradesh government and MPPSC, has directed to give 14 percent reservation to OBCs. Along with this, clarification has also been sought on giving reservation to 27 percent OBCs.
• It was said in the petition that by giving 27 percent reservation to OBC category, the total reservation would be 63 percent. Which is a violation of the order given in the Indira Sawhney case.
• It is noteworthy that Niharika Tripathi, a student from general category, had filed a petition in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Jabalpur against the 27 percent reservation, challenging the exam results released by the MPPSC on December 31, 2021.
• In August 2021, the Madhya Pradesh government increased the reservation of students from 14 percent to 27 percent for backward classes in the state.
• Hearing the petition filed against the government's increase from 14 percent to 27 percent reservation for OBCs, the Madhya Pradesh High Court gave an interim order in March 2019 to continue the 14 percent reservation for backward class students in the field of medical education as before. Along with this, the High Court had also given an interim order to give 14 percent reservation to OBCs in the selection list of various posts examinations by MPPSC.
• The High Court, while hearing four other petitions, had stayed the 27 percent OBC reservation.
• Petitions were also filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court in support of OBC reservation, regarding EWS reservation, 27 percent OBC reservation in judicial service, NHM recruitment and women's reservation. All these petitions are being heard in the High Court. Despite this, the Madhya Pradesh government had released the MPPSC exam result with 27 percent reservation on December 31, 2021.

Madhya Pradesh High Court gets 6 New Judges

Why in News

• Recently, Chief Justice of Jabalpur Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court Ravi Kumar Malimath administered the oath of office and secrecy to 6 new judges.

Key Points

• Significantly, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended to the President the appointment of 6 new judges in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. These new judges include 3 senior advocates and 3 judicial officers.
• In the advocate category, senior advocate Maninder Singh Batey of Jabalpur, advocate DD Bansal of Gwalior and advocate Milind Ramesh Phadke of Indore have been appointed as judges in the High Court.
• On the other hand, in the judicial officers category, Chief District Judge of Ujjain Prakash Chandra Gupta, Indore Judicial Officer Dinesh Kumar Paliwal and Balaghat District Judge Amarnath Kesarwani have been made High Court judges.
• The sanctioned strength of judges in the Madhya Pradesh High Court is 53, but there were 29 judges working; after the appointment of 6 new judges, the number of judges in the MP High Court has increased to 35.