Release Date: Release Date – 11:32 AM, Monday – November 7th
New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, providing a 10 percent reservation for the economically weaker (EWS) in admissions and government jobs. Three-fifths of the judges upheld the EWS quota after hearing petitions challenging EWS reservations.
The judgment was made by five judges led by Chief Justice UU Lalit, and also included Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, S. Ravindra Bhat, Bela M. Trivedi and JB Pardiwala.
In his judgment, Judge Dinesh Maheshwari said the EWS Quota Act did not violate the basic structure or equality code, taking into account economic criteria. He said the retention of the EWS would not damage any of the fundamental features of the constitution by exceeding the 50% quota cap because the cap itself is flexible.
Justice Trivedi said she agreed with the judgment passed by Justice Maheshwari. Trivedi said the EWS quota is valid.
Judge Pardiwala also ruled in favour of the EWS quota.
However, Chief Justice UU Lalit and Justice Bhat disagreed with the other three justices on the bench.
Chief Justice UU Lalit and Justice Bhat said the law was discriminatory and violated the basic structure of the building.
The Supreme Court has ruled on a series of petitions challenging the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, which provides a 10 percent reservation for economically disadvantaged sector (EWS) personnel in admissions and government jobs.
