The Chhattisgarh government has decided to complete the admission process in educational institutions under the existing reservation system, providing an overall reservation of 58 percent. A meeting of the state cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, made the decision based on an interim order passed by the Supreme Court. This order stayed a high court decision that invalidated a 2012 state government order to implement a 58 percent reservation in government job appointments and admissions in educational institutions.
In 2012, the previous Raman Singh government revised the reservation formula, allocating 32 percent for Scheduled Tribes (STs), 12 percent for Scheduled Castes (SCs), and 14 percent for other backward classes, bringing the overall reservation to 58 percent. However, the state high court in 2022 set aside the order, asserting that any reservation exceeding 50 percent is unconstitutional. Subsequently, the matter was appealed to the Supreme Court.
Due to the high court’s ruling, the reservation quota for SC/ST communities was reduced to the level of undivided Madhya Pradesh—20 percent quota for STs, leading to protests from tribal communities. Amidst resentment among the tribal communities, the Bhupesh Baghel government passed two bills in December 2022 in the state assembly. These bills aimed to increase the reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) to 32 percent, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to 27 percent, Scheduled Castes (SCs) to 13 percent, and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to 4 percent. This move would have elevated the total reservation in the state to 76 percent.
The bills were submitted to the then Governor of Chhattisgarh, Anusuiya Uikey, for her approval. However, she has not yet granted her assent, and the bills have been pending since then.
The delay in the Governor’s assent has sparked a political dispute in the state. The ruling Congress party has accused the Governor of intentionally stalling the bills to favour the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has refuted these allegations, asserting that the Governor is simply adhering to due process.
Meanwhile, in May 2023, the Supreme Court issued an interim order staying the high court’s decision. This development allowed the state to reinstate the reservation for government jobs and educational institutions to an overall 58 percent—32 percent for STs, 12 percent for SCs, and 14 percent for OBCs.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the chief minister would make a significant announcement on August 15 related to giving free bus services to students of educational institutions having identity cards.
CM Baghel had indicated considering the demand of one of the youths during the youth dialogue programme in Raipur when he asked for free bus services to commute to colleges.
