10pc reservation for economically weak in general category cleared by president
New Delhi, Jan 12: President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the constitutional provision to provide 10-per cent reservation in government jobs and education to economically backward section in the general category.
A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice said on Saturday that the Constitution (103 Amendment) Act, 2019 has received the assent of the president.
The Act amends Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, by adding a clause which allows states to make "special provision for the advancement of any economically weaker sections of citizens".
These "special provisions" would relate to "their admission to educational institutions, including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the state, other than the minority educational institutions".
It also makes it clear that reservation would be "in addition to the existing reservations and subject to a maximum of 10 per cent of the total seats in each category".
The bill was passed by Parliament on January 9.
"For the purposes of this article and article 16, 'economically weaker sections' shall be such as may be notified by the State from time to time on the basis of family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage," the notification read.
Amendment of Article 16 stated, "Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any economically weaker sections of citizens other than the classes mentioned in clause (4), in addition to the existing reservation and subject to a maximum of ten per cent of the posts in each category."
While introducing the Bill in the Parliament, Union minister Thaawarchand Gehlot had said that at present, the economically weaker sections of citizens have largely remained excluded from attending the higher educational institutions and public employment on account of their financial incapacity to compete with the persons who are economically more privileged.
According to the objects of the bill, "The directive principles of state policy contained in Article 46 of the Constitution enjoins that the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation."
It said economically weaker sections of citizens were not eligible for the benefit of reservation.
"With a view to fulfil the mandate of Article 46, and to ensure that economically weaker sections of citizens get a fair chance of receiving higher education and participation in employment in the services of the State, it has been decided to amend the Constitution of India," the statement of objects of the bill said.
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Man in Belagavi arrested for murdering 15-day-old daughter by feeding poison
Belagavi: In a murder case reported from Ukkada village of the taluk, a 28-year-old man was held by Kakathi Police on charges of poisoning his 15-day-old daughter, apparently on learning that the infant was female.
The arrested man, Bhimaraya Banappa Chippadi, is said to be a resident of Bhootaramanahatti. He was held by Kakathi Police following an investigation into a case registered against him based on a complaint filed by his wife, Sheela Chippadi, who has accused him of murdering their infant, Priyanka.
Police sources have said that Chippadi was unhappy that his wife Sheela had delivered a female child and had been pressurizing her to leave the infant at her paternal home and return alone.
On Tuesday, March 17 afternoon, Chippadi allegedly poisoned his daughter Priyanka when his wife and child were asleep. A primary investigation has revealed that the accused applied the poison to the opening of a bottle and fed it to the infant.
Chippadi reportedly escaped from the spot after poisoning his daughter.
When his wife Sheela woke up, she noticed the infant foaming at the mouth and immediately took the child to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) Hospital, but doctors declared Priyanka dead, sources said. The doctors have reportedly suspected that the infant was fed a pesticide used on cotton crops.
Kakathi Police, who registered a case against Chippadi, probed the matter and tracked him down on Friday, March 20.
Chippadi, who was produced before the court, has been sent to judicial custody and is currently lodged in Hindalga jail.
