SC Upholds 27% OBC Quota In Madhya Pradesh Rejects Youth For Equality's plea

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order allowing 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the state and dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Youth for Equality.

The petition had challenged the Kamal Nath-led Congress government’s move in March 2019 to raise OBC reservation from 14% to 27%. The apex court’s ruling makes it clear that there is no constitutional restriction on implementing 27% reservation for OBCs in Madhya Pradesh.

The principal bench of the MP High Court had earlier dismissed multiple petitions challenging the 87:13 formula, thereby clearing the way for enhanced OBC quota on January 28, 2025.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain had stated that the petitioners had contested a government circular, not the legislation itself.

The bench maintained a stay on the implementation of the 27% quota in certain other petitions, but upheld the core provision.

A total of 76 petitions were filed in MP High Court both supporting and opposing the move while challenging the 87:13 formula related to recruitment and appointment.

The 27% quota was originally introduced by the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in March 2019, but the High Court imposed a stay the same month, citing Supreme Court precedents that cap total reservation at 50%.

In September 2021, the General Administration Department (GAD) issued a circular allowing 27% reservation with exclusions in select subjects. Later, in August 2023, the HC adopted an 87:13 formula, temporarily holding back 13% of posts impacted by the new quota until legal clarity.

Senior advocate Rameshwar Thakur said, “The Supreme Court has rejected the SLP filed by Youth for Equality and upheld the MP High Court’s January 28, 2025 order permitting 27% OBC reservation.”

Reacting on social media, Congress leader Kamal Nath wrote on X, “My government had introduced 27% OBC reservation, but the BJP government has been creating unconstitutional obstacles to deny OBCs the benefits of reservation.

Both the High Court and Supreme Court have now made it clear—there is no restriction on implementing 27% OBC reservation.”