The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay the Centre’s notification to include Jats on the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list. A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Justices Ranjan Gogoi and N.V. Ramana said: “We are prima facie satisfied and it cannot be contended that there is no material for taking such decision. Without expressing any further opinion on the same, we direct the respondent (the Centre) to file counter-affidavit within three weeks. Rejoinder/reply affidavit, if any, may be filed within two days thereafter.”
The seven States where Jats will benefit by the notification are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar. The Bench after hearing senior counsel K. Parasaran and Additional Solicitor General K.V. Viswanathan, appearing for the Centre, said, “Any action taken pursuant to the impugned notification will be subject to the outcome of the writ petitions. On the next date of hearing, the Union of India is directed to produce the original records once again.” The petitioners, OBC Reservation Raksha Samiti, Ram Singh and several others, said the quota was contrary to the recommendation of the National Commission for Backward Classes.
