The Supreme Court (SC) has sought a response from the Madhya Pradesh Gover-nment on a petition seeking to increase reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the State from the current 27 per cent to 50 per cent, reflecting their population share.
The petition, filed by the Madhya Pradesh OBC Advocates Welfare Asso-ciation, challenges Section 4(2) of the Reservation Act, 1994, on the grounds that it unfairly caps OBC reservation and violates Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality and prohibit discrimination.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh and scheduled the next hearing in four weeks.
Senior advocates Ram-eshwar Singh Thakur, Varun Thakur, Vinayak Prasad Shah, Hanumat Lodhi, and Ramkaran Prajapati repre-sented the petitioners.
The petitioners argued that while Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) receive reservation in near proportion to their population—16 per cent for SCs and 20 per cent for STs—the OBC community is limited to just 27 per cent, despite accounting for over 50 per cent of the State’s population according to the 2011 Census.
Advocates emphasised that this disproportionate allocation creates significant underrepresentation for OBCs in key admi-nistrative and professional positions.
Data from the Ambedkar Research Committee was cited, showing that OBC representation in Class I and Class II Government positions remains alarmingly low, often below 13 per cent, highlighting a stark imbalance.
Senior advocate Varun Thakur argued that the existing framework prevents OBCs from achieving proportional representation in Government services and educational institutions, effectively creating systemic inequality.
The petition contends that the limitation imposed by Section 4(2) discriminates against OBCs, despite the constitutional mandate to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens.
It calls for proportional reservation to ensure that OBCs, like SCs and STs, are adequately represented in public employment and educational institutions.
The top Court has taken the arguments seriously and has asked the Madhya Pradesh Government to provide a detailed response within four weeks.
The bench sought explanations on why OBCs are not being granted reservation in proportion to their population and how the State intends to address this apparent underrepresentation.
The case brings renewed focus to the broader debate over reservation policies in India and the need to balance historical social equity with current demographic realities. Observers note that the outcome could have significant implications not only for Madhya Pradesh but also for other States where OBC populations are substantial but their representation in Government positions and education remains limited.
The next hearing will be closely watched, as the Supreme Court examines whether the OBC community in Madhya Pradesh should receive reservation in line with their demographic share, potentially reshaping the State’s reservation framework.
