Here is a report from the Deccan Herald with the text to be amended in the constitution. It appears a class would be a group of people based on caste, this time the upper caste. I was thinking EB class would mean families irrespective of caste earning less than a certain stipulated amount. Not so. Dilip Deka
Centre plans to amend Constitution Cabinet approves quota for EBCs DH News Service New Delhi, Oct 3 The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal to amend the Constitution to give reservation to economically backward classes (EBCs) and remove the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations by giving the states the power to fix the limit. In a decision that is likely to have long term socio-political implications, the proposed Constitutional amendment will effectively override the limit for reservations set by the Supreme Court. The Cabinet gave �in principle� approval to the proposal to this effect which came from the Group of Ministers (GoM) set up to study the matter. Crucial time The decision comes at a politically crucial time � as the country prepares to face General Elections next year. The necessary amendments will be carried out in Clause 4 of both Article 15 and Article 16. A new Clause 4B to Article 16 will also be incorporated to effect the increase in reservation limit, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The amended Article 15(4) will now read: �Nothing in this Article or in Clause (2) of Article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any economically, socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.� Likewise, the amended Article 16(4) will read: �Nothing in this Article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens including the economically backward classes, which in the opinion of the State is not adequately represented in the services under the State.� The new Clause 4B to be added to Article 16, empowering states to fix the limit for reservations, will read: �The State may fix any quantum of reservation as it may deem appropriate in favour of any backward classes of citizens, including the economically backward classes which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in services under the State.� National Commission Friday�s meeting also approved the GoM�s proposal to set up a National Commission with a one-year term to work out the modalities in consultation with governments and others to provide reservation to the Economically Backward Classes not covered by the existing reservation policy, Ms Swaraj said. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search _______________________________________________ Assam mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam
