Punjab and Haryana HC refuses to vacate stay on Jat reservation

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday refused to vacate the stay granted by Manohar Lal Khattar-led government on its decision to grant reservation in jobs and educational institutions to Jats and five other communities.

The court posted the matter for hearing on June 13.

Mukesh Kumar Verma, the petitioner's advocate, said the state government should ensure that they would not touch the merits of the case, adding that time should be given to file the application.

Randhir Singh Bhandaran, the advocate representing Jat Akarshan Sangharsh, demanded that the decision must be reviewed.

"The Haryana Government said there is urgency in this matter. Earlier in March, the High Court had stayed reservation for the Jat community reviving a politically divisive issue for the Haryana Government," he added.

Following the wide-spread protests in the state, the Haryana Government had passed two bills- Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Bill, 2016, and Haryana Backward Classes Commission Bill, 2016, on March 29.

The bills had proposed reservation for Jats and five other castes, including Jat Sikh, Ror, Bishnoi, Tyagi and Mulla Jat, in the state.