11 castes, including Gujjars, back in OBC category in Rajasthan

Yash Goyal 

Jaipur, May 19

The Rajasthan Government on Friday re-included eleven castes, including Banjara, Gardia-Lohar and Gujjars; in their original category of Other Backward Classes (OBC).

The Rajasthan High Court had struck down the Special Backward Class (SBC) Reservation Act, 2015, in December last year.

The Social Justice and Empowerment Department issued the order to be implemented forthwith in compliance with the Supreme Court’s earlier decision to keep these castes in the OBC category, Additional Chief Secretary AK Jain said. 

The castes includes: Banjara, Baldiya, Gardiya, Labana, Gaayari, Gardia-Lohar, Gadoliya, Gujjar, Raika, Goojar, and Raibari. 

On December 9, 2016, a Division Bench of High Court had struck down the notification of October 2015 saying there were “no extra ordinary circumstances” to allow the state’s overall reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to go beyond the 50 per cent cap. 

The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly had passed a Bill to constitute the State Commission for Backward Classes (OBC) for their reservation on March 6. 

Due to this verdict 1,252 candidates selected in various jobs under SBC category got stuck and could not receive any appointment letter.

The state government has moved the Supreme Court for their relief but it was still pending.