The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) with a 3:2 majority. Three out of five judges delivered verdicts in favour of the EWS quota, saying it did not violate the law.
The five-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) UU Lalit, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Justice Bela M Trivedi, and Justice JB Pardiwala was hearing pleas challenging the 103rd Constitution Amendment, which provides for a 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).Justice Dinesh Maheshwari said, “There are some issues and points of determination as to whether it violated basic structure, secondly, if the exclusion of backward classes from getting EWS is violating the equality code and basic structure.”
The court delved into whether there was a breach of the 50% ceiling. Later, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari concluded, saying, “It does not violate the equality code and basic structure.”The apex court had reserved its order on the matter on September 27 after hearing over 20 counsels in seven days.