10% Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in Medical Colleges
Recently, Madras HC ruled that 10% EWS quota in medical colleges requires SC approval.
The Madras High Court has clarified that the Centre’s decision to provide 10% reservation to EWS in the All-India Quota Scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses would require the permission of the Supreme Court.
In July, the Center had notified 27% quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) under the All-India Quota (AIQ) scheme.
AIQ scheme was started in the year 1986. Under this domicile free and merit based opportunities will be provided to the students of any state to get admission in the best medical college of any other state.
Reservation for EWS was implemented through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019. It provides for reservation on economic grounds in jobs and education by inserting clause (6) in Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution.
This amendment was challenged in the Supreme Court on the argument that it violates the 50% limit and is contrary to the rule laid down in the Indra Sawhney case.
The petitions challenging the EWS reservation are still pending in the Supreme Court.
The Center argued in favor of the amendment that the 50% reservation limit is applicable only to the reservation provided under Articles 15(4), 15(5) and 16(4). It does not apply to Article 15(6).
Source – The Hindu
