SC upholds reservation for OBCs in Panchayats and Local Bodies
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, May 11, 2010
Reservation for OBCs in Panchayats approved by SC
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutional validity of reservation for backward classes in rural and urban local bodies, including posts of chairpersons. It also rejected the plea that the creamy layer should be excluded.
However, the five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, said that the reservation benefits should not exceed the 50 per cent upper ceiling limit except in scheduled areas.
The bench said in a judgement that the objectives of democratic decentralisation are not only to bring governance closer to the people but also to make it more participatory, inclusive and accountable to the weaker sections of society.
The bench included Justices RV Raveendran, DK Jain, P Sathasivam and J M Panchal.
The apex court said that the empowerment of the elected individual, at the Panchayats’ level is only a means for pursuing the larger end of advancing the interests of weaker sections.
