HC-appointed panel seeks quota for Gujjars
May 03, 2010 16:43 IST
A committee appointed by the Rajasthan High Court to look into the reservation demand of Gujjars in Rajasthan has recommended the government to grant quota and special backward class status to the community.
The I S Israni committee report submitted before the high court has endorsed the recommendations of Justice Chopra Committee, which had recommended five per cent reservation for the community in 2007 in government employment and admission to educational institutions.
The Israni committee report has also asked the government to contest the reservation issue in favour of the community.
The committee was constituted by an interim order of the high court to defuse law and order situation arising out of Gujjars' agitations in the state. The court had last year, however, struck down the five per cent reservation for the community (as recommended by the Jasraj Chopra Committee) observing that the measure would exceed the 50 per cent reservation cap.
The report said the government must apprise HC of the Maharashtra pattern of reservation wherein more than 50 per cent of quota has been granted. The court had directed the government to submit the Israni committee report by May 3.
The committee also recommended that government engage specialised lawyers for contesting the court cases in favour of Gujjars. The other demands of the community regarding scholarships, compassionate appointments, withdrawal of cases pending against them should be taken up in accordance with law, the report said.
Acting on a PIL last year, the court had stayed the 19 per cent reservation given to special backward class and economically backward classes, which included Gujjars.
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