Despite the voices coming against the Reservation Bill for Gujjars, Rajasthan assembly has passed it successfully. Under this bill, Gujjars would get 5% reservation in the category of Special Backward Class (SBC). Other than SBC another category of reservation in the bill is Economically Backwards (EB), which covers reservation for economically poor.

 

The bill was passed with tremendous majority and assembly made a consensus resolution that the Central government should include the bill in the 9th schedule of the constitution so that it could not be challenged anywhere in the court. State Law Minister G S Tiwari told media that the bill reserves seats in educational institutions in the state and appointments and posts in the services under the state in favour of the SC, ST, Backward Classes, and EBC.

 

Mr Tiwari further said that the bill is not against the Supreme Court ruling for quota and informed that the bill extends quota benefit of 5 per cent to four castes of Gujjars, Banjara, Gadia Lohars, and Raika. Interestingly, the Bill has offered reservation for forward castes like Mathur, Brahmins, Rajput, Vaishya under EBC.