Now states and union territories will be able to make their OBC list, Lok Sabha approved the bill

New Delhi, 10/8:The Constitution Amendment Bill, which gives back the right to states to make their OBC (Other Backward Classes) list, was approved by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The entire House voted in favor of it. In the Lok Sabha, all the pros and cons voted in support of it.

In the Lok Sabha, the government on Monday introduced the ‘Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021’ related to the Other Backward Classes (OBC), which will allow the state government and union territories to have their own state list/union list of socially and educationally backward classes. Empowers the State to prepare the Territory List. In the lower house, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar introduced the ‘Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021’ related to the Other Backward Classes.

Significantly, the Supreme Court had dismissed the Centre’s plea for review of its May 5 majority verdict, which had held that the 102nd Constitutional Amendment provides for reservation to the Socially and Educationally Backward (SEBCs) in jobs and admissions. Takes away the authority of the state.

The Objectives and Reasons of the Bill states that the legislative intent at the time of passing the Constitution 102nd Act, 2018 was that it pertains to the Central List of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes. It recognizes the fact that many States and Union Territories have their own State List/ UT List of Other Backward Classes even before the announcement of their own Central List of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes in 1993.