The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed Bill to extend reservation to Economically Backward Classes

Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Rajasthan Economically Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) Bill, 2015 on 22^nd September 2015. The Bill provides for 14% reservation of seats in educational institutions in the State and of appointment and posts in the services under the State in favour of the Economically Backward Classes. The Bill defines Economically Backward Classes as the classes consisting of persons not included in any other category of reservation, declared as such by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette. The Bill provides that in matters of promotion the reservation shall be only for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 

The statement of object and reasons of the Bill mentions that there was a long standing demand from the poorest classes of the unreserved categories that due to their economic weakness they are unable to compete with the other affluent classes as a result of which they are gradually becoming socially and educationally backward. In view of their demand, a Commission was appointed to identify and examine the requirements of the economically backward classes of people of general categories not covered by the existing reservation available to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. The Commission recommended the extension of the benefit of reservation to these classes of persons. It is thus that the Rajasthan Government is of the view that for the educational and economic advancement of the majority of the people of the State and to ensure the justice and equality as enshrined in the Constitution, it is necessary to continue the existing policy of reservation and to extend the benefit of reservation to Economically Backward Classes.

On the same day the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly also passed the Rajasthan Special Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under State) Bill, 2015. The State Assembly also passed resolutions requesting the State Government to make efforts to get both the Bills included in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.