Centre throws ball back in Rajasthan's court

The Centre has asked the Rajasthan government to take its own initiative for granting the community de-notified or nomadic tribe status as Constitution enables the states to make such a provision.

Washing its hands over the Gujjar agitation, the Centre has asked the Rajasthan government to take its own initiative for granting the community de-notified or nomadic tribe status as Constitution enables the states to make such a provision.

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In a letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Tribal Affairs Minister P R Kyndiah said that as per the legal advice available with the government, the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, enables the states to make provisions for reservations to nomadic and de-notified tribes other than the SC, ST and OBCs, if the situation demands.

"Since Constitutional provision already exist which empower the states to make special provisions for categories other than SCs, STs and OBCs, no amendment to the Constitution for this purpose is necessary or feasible, as any such move will be settled by a catena of Supreme Court decision on the subject of reservation," the letter said.

The Centre also gave the example of Maharashtra government, which has implemented four per cent quota for de-notified or nomadic tribe long ago.

The move from the Centre came following a letter written by Rajasthan Chief Minister Raje to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recommending four to six per cent reservation for Gujjars in the category of de-notified or nomadic tribe.