Supreme Court agrees to re-examine 50% quota cap

New Delhi: After nearly three-decades of the Indra Sawhney judgment, the Supreme Court on Monday said the 50 per cent cap on reservation laid down by a 9-judge bench in 1992, could be re-examined in view of subsequent constitutional amendments and the socio-economic changes that has followed.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan issued notice to all state governments and Union Territories whether reservation could be allowed to breach the existing 50 per cent limit and sought their views on Centre's Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota amendment.

The bench, also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta and S Ravindra Bhat said: "States have to be given opportunity to have their say."

The observation came while the apex court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the validity of the Maratha reservation.

The top court said this matter is not limited to just one state, therefore it is important to hear other states too, as its decision in the matter would have wider ramification.

The top court will also examine the possibility of referring to Indra Sawhney's judgment to a larger bench and it will begin day-to-day hearing in the matter on March 15.

On December 9, last year, the top court had refrained from modifying the stay order in implementing reservation for Marathas in job and education in Maharashtra.