HC: verdict on Jat on pleas against Jat quota today; Rohtak police on alert
The Punjab and Haryana high court will deliver its verdict on the validity of the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admissions in Educational Institutions) Act, 2016, on Friday.
The provision of reservation to the members of the Jat Sikh, Jat, Muslim-Jat, , Bishnoi, Ror and Tyagi communities depends on the verdict by the High Court.
A bench had given its verdict in March last year after hearing when the state government defended the Haryana Backward Classes (reservation in services and admission in educational institutions) Act 2016.
The reservation was challenged as the law was contrary to the basic structure of the constitution and had exceeded the 50% limit set by the SC, with effect to which the court has then stayed the reservation.
The Jats constitute 26% of Haryana 2.64-crore population.
In February last year, 30 people were killed and more than 300 people were injured when an agitation by the Jats had sparked largescale violence in Haryana. Property worth crores of rupees was also damaged during the agitation that left the state, along with close by places paralysed for nearly two weeks.
In view of the agitation last year, the Rohtak district administration and police authorities are on high alert while closely monitoring the developments, said Local SP Pankaj Nain
“The police and administration are on an alert in view of the situation. We are committed to maintaining peace, law and order,” said Rohtak Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Atul Kumar.
“We are hopeful that the high court will rule in our favour and set aside hurdles in our reservation. But if it stays our reservation, it will be the responsibility of the government to bring a stronger bill that could not be challenged,” said Ashok Balhara, the general secretary Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti.
“We will give a deadline to the government on September 3 and announce the date for another protest if it failed to give us quota by then,” he added.
The organisation will stage a rally in Jhajjar on September 3.
-PTC News
