Punjab & Haryana HC Upholds Validity of Reservation for Jats

The matter has been referred to the Commission for Backward Classes which will submit its report by 31 March 2018.

File photo of Jat agitation at its peak.

(Photo: PTI)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday upheld the constitutional validity of the Haryana Backward Classes Act 2016 that gives reservation to the Jats and five other communities (under newly-created BC(C) category) in services and admission in educational institutions.

The matter has been referred to the National Commission for Backward Classes which will submit its report by 31 March 2018.

Assistant Advocate General Haryana Lokesh Singhal said:

The High Court directed the Haryana government to place data collected by it before the Commission or it will collect data on basis of which the percentage to which extent reservation is to be granted will be determined.

He added that the reservation granted to castes mentioned in Class-III “will remain in abeyance till then”.

The Jat agitation for granting of reservation turned bloody after large-scale violence hit Haryana in February 2016. Around 30 people were killed and over 300 injured.

(With inputs from ANI.)