Supreme Court declines to suspend Patna HC's ruling on 65 per cent quota for SC, ST, OBCs

New Delhi: The Supreme Court refused to grant to stay on the Patna High Court's decision that scrapped the Bihar state law reserving 65 percent of government jobs for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and backward classes on Monday. The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, has accepted the Bihar government's 10 petitions request to review the Patna High Court's judgment.

Supreme Court agrees to hear Bihar's plea

The apex court chose not to issue notices on the pleas but granted leave for appeal scheduling the hearing of the petitions for September. 

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the state government, urged the bench to stay the high court's order, citing a similar case in Chhattisgarh where the Supreme Court had granted a stay. However, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud replied, "We will list the matter, but we will not grant any stay (on the HC verdict)."

Supreme Court refuses to stay Patna High Court order that set aside the increase in reservation for Backward Classes in public employment and admission to educational institutions.

Supreme Court lists the matter in September for hearing Bihar Government's plea challenging Patna… pic.twitter.com/JMK4iB7R6g

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2024

Patna High Court invalidates 65 percent quota

Last month, the Patna High Court invalidated the state's 65 percent on reservations in government employment and educational institutions. 

In November last year, the state government officially notified two bills in the state gazette, seeking to increase the reservation quota for underprivileged castes to 65 percent making Bihar the state with the highest overall reservation percentage among larger states, totaling 75 percent.