BC panel seeks caste-wise population data from govt

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 21

The Haryana Backward Classes Commission has asked the government to submit caste-wise population details for compiling a report on the extent of reservation, if any, to be given to Jats and six other castes.

Since the data is not currently available, the state government may have to conduct a mini-census. Justice (retd) SN Aggarwal, Chairman of the commission, said they had sought the data from the government, along with the caste-wise details of employees, vide a letter dated September 13, soon after the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

“The government provided the caste-wise data of employees on December 14, which was uploaded on the website www.hbcc.nic.in, soliciting claims and objections from the public till December 30. But no data on caste-wise population has been given so far. It is important for compiling the report,” said Aggarwal.

Ritambhara Sanghi, a member of the commission, said as many as 12 objections had been received so far, which say Jats and six other castes — Jat Sikh, Mullah Jat, Muslim Jat, Bishnoi, Ror and Tyagi — occupied 31.35 per cent jobs — 27.61 per cent Class 1, 33.38 per cent Class II, 34.48 per cent Class III and 15.54 per cent Class IV. Most of the objections oppose reservation for Jats and others, while some others have given suggestions.

“Earlier, the commission and the state government sought the caste-wise population details from the office of the Registrar General and the Census Commissioner, Central Government. But the authorities expressed inability to provide the same as the caste column was frozen during Census 2011. Inquiries from the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry and NITI Ayog were also not of much help,” said Aggarwal.

On September 1, the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutional) Act, 2016. However, at the same time the court directed the commission to undertake an exercise to determine the extent of reservation, if any, to which Jats and others are entitled. The state government was to provide the data by November 30.

Article 16(4) in the Constitution of India states that “Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.”

Article 16(4) says...  

Nothing in this Article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State