NEW DELHI: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the constitutional validity of the quota for the economically weaker sections in a 4-1 majority on grounds that it did not violate the Constitution. The apex court pronounced its ruling while responding to a batch of pleas challenging the validity of the 103rd Constitution amendment providing 10 per cent reservation to those falling in economically weaker sections (EWS) sections in admissions and government jobs.
The historic verdict was delivered by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit. “Reservation on economic criteria does not violate the basic structure of the constitution… EWS reservation does not violate the equality code,” Justice Dinesh Maheshwari said.
Justice Bela M Trivedi concurred with Justice Maheshwari and said the EWS quota in the general category was valid and constitutional.
