State Govt Committed to 27% Reservation for OBCs: CM Dr. Yadav

Bhopal, Aug 2025 : Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has reiterated that the State Government is firmly committed to ensuring 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He said that the matter is currently under consideration in the Supreme Court, where hearings on the issue will begin daily from September 22, 2025. An all-party meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s residence to build consensus on the issue. Representatives of all political parties unanimously passed a resolution supporting a 27% reservation for OBCs. It was also decided that lawyers representing various parties will meet before September 10 to coordinate their arguments. CM Dr. Yadav said that all political parties are united in their resolve to provide 27% reservation to OBCs in the state. He assured that candidates deprived of appointment letters due to interim judicial orders would be given justice through a collective effort by the legislature, judiciary, and executive.

The Chief Minister emphasised that wherever legally permissible, the State Government has already implemented 27% reservation. For instance, in departments like Public Works, where there was no stay, full OBC reservation has been granted. He added that the State is ready to seek guidance from senior legal experts to ensure a strong defense in court. CM Dr. Yadav also said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s initiative of caste-based census will further strengthen efforts to secure rightful representation for OBCs. The Chief Minister’s initiative to convene an all-party meeting was widely appreciated by leaders across the political spectrum.

The all-party meeting was attended by Congress State President Shri Jitu Patwari, Leader of Opposition Shri Umang Singhar, former Congress President Shri Arun Yadav, BSP State President Shri Ramakant Pippl, SP State President Shri Manoj Yadav, Gondwana Gantantra Party President and MLA Shri Taleshwar Singh Markam, AAP State President and Singrauli Mayor Smt. Rani Agrawal, CPI leader Shri J.P. Dubey, former Minister Shri Kamleshwar Patel, Advocate Shri Varun Thakur, Panchayat & Rural Development Minister Shri Prahlad Patel, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for OBC & Minority Welfare Smt. Krishna Gaur, OBC Commission Chairperson, Shri Ramkrishna Kusmaria, BJP State President and MLA Shri Hemant Khandelwal, Satna MP Shri Ganesh Singh and MLA Shri Pradeep, among others. Advocate General Shri Prashant Singh participated virtually.

Background on OBC Reservation in Madhya Pradesh

• On 8 March 2019, the Government of Madhya Pradesh issued an ordinance increasing reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in education and services from14% to27%. On 14 August 2019, the Legislative Assembly passed a Bill, thereby making it law.
• Currently, more than 40 cases, including WP 5901/2019 (Ashita Dubey vs. State of Madhya Pradesh) filed on 19 March 2019, are pending before higher courts. Through interim orders, the implementation of reservation beyond 14% under the ordinance/Act has been stayed, but the validity of the Act itself has not been questioned. Thus, the Act remains legally valid as of today. The final hearing before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 606/2025 is scheduled to begin on 22 September 2025.
• In WP 5901/2019 (Ashita Dubey vs. State of Madhya Pradesh), the interim order directed that no reservation above 14% be granted in admissions (Medical Education Department). Similarly, in WP 25181/2019, WP 8923/2020, and over 40 otherpetitions, advertisements issued with 27% OBC reservation (such as MPPSC, PEB, TET etc.) were stayed. As a result of these interim orders, the practical implementation of the provision of 27% OBC reservation could not be carried out.
• The State Government consolidated WP 25181/2019, WP 8923/2020, and 40 otherpetitions with WP 5901/2019 before the High Court, Jabalpur. Considering the interim orders, effective defense of the Act has been ensured by the Advocate General on behalf of the State Government.
• On 29 September 2022, the General Administration Department directed the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission to declare examination results in two parts—main results for 87% of posts and provisional results for 13% of posts.
• On 27 January 2024, similar instructions were issued to the Madhya Pradesh Staff Selection Board to declare examination results in two parts—87% main and 13%provisional.
• With respect to the 50% ceiling on reservations, the Act does not explicitly provide details or analysis of the “extraordinary circumstances” justifying it. The State Government is making strong efforts through the Advocate General to defend the Act effectively.
• On 2 September 2021, the Madhya Pradesh OBC Welfare Commission was constituted. As per its mandate, the Commission is tasked with studying the social, educational, and economic status of backward classes, analyzing the causes of backwardness, and identifying extraordinary circumstances. On 6 October 2023, two members were appointed to the Commission.
• The Commission submitted its first report on 5 May 2022 and its second report on 12May 2022 to the State Government.
• In Suresh Mahajan vs. State of Madhya Pradesh (WP 278/2022), the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 18 May 2022 allowed the conduct of local body elections (urban and rural) with up to 35% reservation for OBCs, which was a landmark step for political representation of OBCs.
• The State Government is also presenting its position in the context of OBC reservation and total reservation in various states.
• All cases related to OBC reservation pending in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh have been transferred to the Hon’ble Supreme Court, New Delhi. The final hearing in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 606/2025 is scheduled to commence on 22 September 2025.
• On 23 July 2025, a new Chairman and member were appointed to the Madhya Pradesh OBC Welfare Commission.
• The Commission has been entrusted with the task of collecting social, educational, economic, and political data on OBCs, as well as conducting surveys and scientific studies to identify causes of backwardness. This work is being carried out through Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Social Science University (Mhow) and Madhya Pradesh JanAbhiyan Parishad (Planning, Economics & Statistics Department). Services of expert institutions are also being utilized for socio-scientific research and statisticalanalysis.
• The Madhya Pradesh OBC Welfare Commission is in the process of preparing an empirical and analytical report on the above issues. Further action will be taken by the State Government upon receipt of the report.