Madhya Pradesh government to move Supreme Court after High Court strikes down OBC reservation ordinance

The Jabalpur High Court has struck down a 2019 ordinance issued by the former Kamal Nath government that sought to increase Other Backward Class (OBC) reservation in Madhya Pradesh from 14 percent to 27 percent. The court ruled that there were no special circumstances justifying exceeding the 50 percent total reservation limit, citing Supreme Court precedents such as the Indra Sawhney case.

As a result of the ruling, the court has limited OBC reservation to 14 percent and directed that 13 percent of held positions be filled from the unreserved category within three months. However, the court noted that selections made under the 27 percent quota between September 2019 and September 2022 would be protected.

The decision has triggered intense political conflict in the state. Cabinet Minister Prahlad Patel announced that the Madhya Pradesh government will appeal the decision in the Supreme Court, accusing the previous Congress administration of issuing the ordinance for political gain without following proper constitutional procedures.

Conversely, the Congress party has criticized the current government, alleging that the ruling reflects a failure to protect OBC interests. State Congress President Jitu Patwari questioned the government's intentions, claiming the administration failed to present an effective legal defense in court.