Jharkhand, a state carved out of Bihar in 2000, has a complex history and demography that significantly influences its reservation policies. These policies, aimed at social justice and upliftment of marginalized communities, have been the subject of intense debate and legal challenges.
Current Reservation Structure
As of December 2024, Jharkhand's reservation policy in state government jobs stands as follows:
Scheduled Tribes (ST): 26%
Scheduled Castes (SC): 10%
Other Backward Classes (OBC): 14%
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10%
Additionally, a recent amendment provides:
Dependents of Jharkhand Andolankaris (participants in the separate statehood movement): 5% (horizontal reservation)
Key Legislation and Amendments
Jharkhand Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Bill of 2023: This bill introduced the 5% horizontal reservation for dependents of Jharkhand Andolankaris. Horizontal reservation means this quota applies across all categories (ST, SC, OBC, EWS).
Jharkhand Reservation in Vacancies of Posts and Services (Amendment) Act, 2022: This Act aimed to increase the overall reservation in state government jobs to 77% by increasing the quotas for SC, ST, and OBC categories. However, it is currently pending approval from the Governor.
Jharkhand definition of local persons and for extending the consequential, social, cultural and other benefits to such local persons Bill, 2022: 1 This bill seeks to define 'local residents' based on land records (khatiyan) of 1932 or earlier. This has implications for domicile status and eligibility for certain government jobs.
Controversies and Challenges
Jharkhand's reservation policies have faced several challenges:
Legal Hurdles: The proposed increase to 77% reservation exceeds the 50% limit generally set by the Supreme Court, leading to legal questions.
Domicile Issue: The 1932 khatiyan-based definition of local residents has sparked controversy, with concerns about its practicality and potential for exclusion.
Implementation Gaps: Effective implementation of reservation policies remains a challenge, with concerns about transparency and reaching the intended beneficiaries.
Looking Ahead
Jharkhand's reservation policies are in a state of flux. The pending 77% quota bill and the 1932 khatiyan-based domicile policy face legal and political hurdles. The state government is committed to increasing reservations, but navigating the legal framework and ensuring equitable implementation remain significant challenges.
Further Exploration:
Government websites: Jharkhand government websites provide details on specific reservation policies and related acts.
Legal databases: Resources like Manupatra and LexisNexis offer insights into legal challenges and court judgments related to reservation policies.
Academic studies: Research papers and reports by academic institutions and think tanks provide in-depth analysis of reservation policies and their socio-economic impact.
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