AMN / NEW DELHI

The Lok Sabha has taken up for consideration and passage of a Constitution Amendment Bill providing for ten per cent reservation to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the General category.

The legislation namely the Constitution 124th Amendment Bill facilitates reservation for EWS people in the upper caste in the direct recruitments and admission in higher educational institutions.

Moving the bill, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said it is aimed at giving equal opportunity to economically backwards people in the upper castes.

He clarified that this reservation will be given without tampering the existing quotas for SC, ST and OBCs people.

He also said the upper-class people of all religion including Hindu, Muslim and Sikh will be benefited under this reservation provisions.

He also rejected the apprehensions that this bill will not stand the legal scrutiny saying that it has been brought with the Constitutional Amendment and the legislation cannot be struck down.

Initiating the decision, K V Thomas of Congress said his party is not against the concept of this quota bill and support it, but the way it has been brought raises several questions on the sincerity of the government.

He alleged that the government has brought the bill without proper homework and demanded that the bill should be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Intervening in the debate, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said this is a move to grant equal opportunity to all. He said the Bill will be applicable to all educational institutions and government jobs.

Mr. Jaitley also said that this Constitutional Amendment bill needs not approval of the state assemblies.