Chhattisgarh reservation bills row: HC stays order on notice to governor office

On February 6, Chhattisgarh HC sought a reply from the secretariat of the governor during the hearing of a writ petition that challenged the alleged delay in assent to two bills related to reservation

Published on: Feb 10, 2023, 14:53:15 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Chhattisgarh high court on Friday stayed its order delivered on February 6 in which a notice was sent to the governor’s office for reply over the alleged delay in giving assent to reservation bills.

The high court had ordered the governor’s secretariat to submit a reply by February 24. (File photo)

Chhattisgarh Governor’s office had written a letter stating governor Anusuiya Uikey had expressed ‘grave displeasure’ against the state government and advocate general over the writ petition filed against the governor’s secretariat on pending reservation bills.

On February 6, Chhattisgarh HC sought a reply from the secretariat of the governor during the hearing of a writ petition that challenged the alleged delay in assent to two bills related to reservation that were sent by the state government to Uikey’s office on December 3.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh governor expresses displeasure over writ petition on reservation bills

The high court had ordered the governor’s secretariat to submit a reply by February 24.

The letter, dated February 9 and addressed to the chief secretary of the state, further sought answers from the government in five days asking under what circumstances, the advocate general had filed a writ petition against the governor.

On January 18, a petition filed by Himank Saluja in the Chhattisgarh high court that alleged no action was taken by the governor on two reservation bills sent by the state government for her assent, in the absence of which students were suffering, and the reservation policy in the state was not clear.

“…. Advocate general of Chhattisgarh pleading against the governor in the said matter, is a complete violation of the paragraph 173 of the judgment dated 24 January, 2006, passed by the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, which says that the governor has to be represented by the state government itself. In pursuance to the same, the Article 361 of the Constitution of India is also observable, wherein it has been provided that the Governor not is answerable to any court,” the letter stated.

Meanwhile, the governor’s office had on Thursday moved an application in the high court demanding to recall the notice served to the governor’s secretariat on February 6.

“The application has been filed in court seeking stay over the order in which a notice was served to the governor office,” said S Gopa Kumar, assistant solicitor general of India for the high court of Chhattisgarh.

On December 3, 2022, Chhattisgarh assembly passed two bills which increased reservation for OBCs to 27% from the existing 14%, while for the SC community to 13% from 12% in the public employment and admissions.

The 32% reservation for the ST category was kept unchanged.

Besides, a provision of 4% reservation was also provided to the economically weaker section (EWS), taking the total quota of 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

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.