Is governor waiting for ‘muhurat’ to sign reservation bills, asks Chhattisgarh CM

The governor’s House and the chief minister have been at loggerheads since last month over the latter’s pending assent to reservation bills passed by the state assembly.

Updated on: Jan 24, 2023, 12:50:30 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday accused governor Anusuiya Uikey of misusing constitutional powers over the alleged delay in her assent to two reservation amendment bills and asked whether she is waiting for some ‘muhurat’ (auspicious time).

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel (HT Photo)

His remarks came a day after the governor told the media to wait “till March” when asked about pending assent to the reservation bills.

“Is she waiting for some muhurat? We have to conduct admissions of children, exams of Vyapam, recruitment in police, recruitment of teachers, recruitment in health (department) all the recruitments are on hold,” Baghel said.

The governor’s House and the chief minister have been at loggerheads since last month over the latter’s pending assent to reservation bills passed by the state assembly.

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Reacting to one line remark from the governor, Baghel said the governor is misusing her powers.

The CM further said, “This is a misuse of the powers. What auspicious occasion will occur in March? The bills were passed in December and they are sitting on it. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is silent, bills are pending at the behest of the BJP… It is an injustice to the youth of the state.”

On December 3, 2022, the Chhattisgarh assembly passed two bills which increased reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) to 27% from the existing 14%, and for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community to 13% from 12% in public employment and admissions. The 32% reservation for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category was kept unchanged.

Besides, a 4% reservation provision was also provided to the Economic Weaker Section (EWS), taking the total extent of the reservation to 76%.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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