In a bid to woo the Jat community ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the union cabinet on Thursday asked the National Commission for Backward Classes to fast track its recommendations on whether Jats could be included in the OBC list for quota in central government jobs and educational institutions.
The cabinet decision came on a proposal of the social justice and empowerment ministry asking the commission to review its earlier recommendation of not conducting a fresh survey to ascertain the number and socio-economic condition of Jats.
Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said there was a demand of reservation for Jats from nine states, namely Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Bihar.
Tewari said the cabinet has asked the commission to take an early decision on whether Jats can be included in the central list of the other backward classes so that those belonging to this community can get the benefit of reservation in central government jobs and educational institutions.
On whether the cabinet had given any deadline to the commission, Tewari said: "We hope the NCBC will take it up expeditiously and revert to the government. We are positive but there is a process."
On whether the commission could turn down the cabinet's advice, the minister said, "Every committee or commission has a right to negate or approve. When the government takes a political consideration and the cabinet recommends something, it has to be taken seriously by the commission."
{{/usCountry}}On whether the commission could turn down the cabinet's advice, the minister said, "Every committee or commission has a right to negate or approve. When the government takes a political consideration and the cabinet recommends something, it has to be taken seriously by the commission."
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