MP High Court Restores 14% OBC Quota, Strikes Down 27% Reservation In Jobs And Higher Education
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that OBC reservation in state public services and higher education will remain at 14%. The court has also directed recruitment agencies to fill 13% of previously withheld posts within three months.
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The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that OBC reservation in state public services and higher education will remain at 14%. The court has also directed recruitment agencies to fill 13% of previously withheld posts within three months.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has struck down the 2019 law that increased reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 14% to 27% in state public services and higher education.
In its judgment delivered on October 9, the court said the state had not established sufficient grounds to increase the quota beyond the 50% reservation ceiling laid down by the Supreme Court. The court clarified that the case concerned the extent of reservation and not whether OBCs were entitled to reservation. It held that the quota would remain at 14%.
Why Did The MP High Court Strike Down The 27% OBC Quota?
The increase was introduced through an ordinance in March 2019 under the then Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh. It was later given a legal basis through an amendment passed that year.
The decision was challenged in court, leading to a prolonged legal dispute over the higher quota.
The High Court examined available data on OBC representation in public services and higher education. It observed that the data showed adequate representation and that no extraordinary circumstances had been established to justify increasing the quota from 14% to 27%.
The court referred to Supreme Court judgments in the Indra Sawhney and Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil cases while upholding the 50% reservation ceiling.
What Happens To Government Jobs Held Up By The Case?
The High Court has directed recruitment agencies, including the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) and the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board, to fill 13% of posts that had been kept on hold. These appointments must be completed within three months, with the posts filled from the unreserved category.
The court also protected OBC candidates appointed under the enhanced quota between March 2019 and September 29, 2022. These candidates will not lose their jobs because of the ruling.
The posts occupied by candidates appointed beyond the earlier 14% quota during this period will be adjusted over the next three recruitment cycles.
What Does The Verdict Mean For OBC Reservation?
The judgment restores the OBC reservation quota in Madhya Pradesh public services and higher education to 14%, instead of 27%. It also provides directions for filling the posts that remained pending during the legal dispute. The ruling may face further legal challenges, as the Congress and OBC groups have indicated plans to contest the decision.
The judgment addresses the state’s 2019 quota increase and does not, by itself, change OBC reservation rules across India.
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Anjali is an education journalist with over a year of experience in digital and business journalism. She has previously worked with BW Businessworld and ANI, where she gained experience in news writing, editing, research, and fact-checking. At Jagran Josh, she writes education news and covers competitive exams and current affairs, with a keen interest in delivering accurate, informative, and reader-focused content. She holds a BA from Miranda House, University of Delhi, and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). Anjali enjoys reading and exploring new ideas and perspectives through books.
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