SC to consider referring 10% quota challenge to larger bench, next hearing on March 28

The Supreme Court on Monday scheduled the hearing on petitions challenging the 10% reservation in educational institutions and government employment to the Economically-Weaker Sections to March 28.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it will consider whether the matter is required to be referred to a Constitution Bench.

“If it requires consideration by a larger bench, we will do it,” Gogoi said 

The Bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said that it would consider the plea on referring the issue to a larger bench after senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan said the limit of 50 per cent was part of the Constitution’s basic structure. 

The Bench asked Dhavan to tender a short note on his submissions. 

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government in January had decided to amend the constitution to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and higher education for those belonging to the economically weaker sections.