SC stays resolution on job reservation

The Bombay High Court today granted an interim stay on the Maharashtra Government Resolution (GR), which provided for reservations to SC/STs and OBCs for promotions of Class-One officers.

The division bench of Justice VG Palshikar and Justice Nishita Mhatre granted the interim stay on the GR till March 21 following a petition filed by a few government employees challenging the reservation.

The GR granting reservation in promotion of government employees, belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward class, was passed on May 25 last year.

The petition filed by Vijay Goghde and others contended that the GR was bad in law and it violated Article 16(4) of the constitution.

Counsel V R Manohar, who was arguing on behalf of the petitioners, said, "The GR is also in violation of the Supreme Court order restricting the government with regards to reservation in promotions of its employees from the SCs, STs and OBCs.

Maharashtra's advocate general V A Thorat and public prosecutor Pradip Patil told the court that the GR was passed keeping in mind larger interest of the public.