Bhopal/Jabalpur, April 27 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari on Monday questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government’s seriousness in pursuing the Other Backwards Classes reservation case, even as the Madhya Pradesh High Court initiated structured hearings on the long-pending issue.

Patwari said that the issue of Other Backwards Classes reservation is inextricably linked to the future of lakhs of youths, students, and families, yet the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s inaction is deeply unfortunate.

He alleged that, despite clear timelines set by the Supreme Court, the state government has failed to demonstrate urgency or preparedness.

Patwari’s remarks came on a day when significant procedural progress was made in the High Court at Jabalpur, where a division bench led by Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf took up as many as 86 petitions related to the 27 per cent Other Backwards Classes reservation.

Due to two division benches being on leave, the hearing began later than scheduled and lasted only 35 minutes, from 4:35 p.m. to 5:10 p.m.

Despite the limited time, the court laid down a clear roadmap for the hearings by categorising all petitions into two separate batches: those opposing the enhanced quota and those supporting it.

The bench decided that arguments from petitioners challenging the 27 per cent reservation would be heard first.

This will be followed by submissions from the state government and then by those defending the quota.

The court also sought undertakings from all parties regarding the time required to complete their arguments, signalling its intent to expedite the proceedings.

A dedicated daily time slot from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. has now been fixed for the hearing.

Senior advocate Pradeep Sancheti is set to argue against the quota increase, while Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj will represent the state government.

Referring to the background of the case, Patwari noted that the Congress government led by Kamal Nath had increased Other Backward Classes reservation from 14 per cent to 27 per cent in 2019, calling it a “historic step towards social justice”.

However, he said the issue has remained entangled in legal disputes since then, delaying recruitment and affecting lakhs of aspirants.

He also criticised the absence of senior law officers during hearings.

He said that at such a crucial juncture, the failure of the Advocate General to appear in person raises serious doubts about the government’s intent, adding that thousands of candidates have been waiting for appointments for years.

Linking the court’s push for time-bound hearings with his concerns, Patwari said the government must now act with seriousness and ensure effective legal representation.

He said that Other Backward Classes reservation cannot be protected through mere formalities.

He reiterated that the Congress will continue to press the government on the issue and fight to safeguard the constitutional rights of the Other Backward Classes community.

–IANS

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