Patna High Court sets aside Bihar laws raising reservation for SC/STs, Backward Classes to 65%

The Patna High Court recently overturned Bihar legislature's 2023 amendments to increase reservations for SC/STs and Other Backward Classes from 50% to 65%. \r

Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Harish Kumar, ruling on petitions challenging these amendments, declared them unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution, citing adequate representation of backward communities in public employment. \r

The Court emphasized that exceeding the 50% reservation limit could only be justified in exceptional cases, such as far-flung or remote areas, which did not apply to Bihar. It criticized the lack of scientific analysis in the legislature's decision-making process and reaffirmed that merit should not be wholly sacrificed in the pursuit of social equity.