Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Rajasthan High Court Seeks Responses on Bhil ST Sub-Quota
A group representing Bhils has asked a court for a special part of the Scheduled Tribe reservation.
They want 9 per cent out of Rajasthan’s existing 12 per cent ST quota to be set aside for Bhils.
They say Bhils have not received enough benefits from the reservation system.
They also say the government has not collected enough information about the situation of different ST communities.
The group says the Meena community has received a larger share of the benefits.
The petition asks the court to pause ST-category appointments while the case is being considered.
The Rajasthan High Court has not decided whether the request is correct.
Instead, it has asked government bodies and other authorities to respond.
The court will consider those responses before taking further action.
The Rajasthan High Court issued notices over a petition seeking a 9 per cent Bhil sub-quota within the existing 12 per cent Scheduled Tribe reservation.
Petitioners also requested a stay on appointments under the Scheduled Tribe category until the case is decided.
They alleged that the Meena community has received a larger share of ST reservation benefits, while Bhils remain underrepresented.
The petition claims Rajasthan lacks adequate data and recent surveys on communities’ social, educational and economic conditions and government-service representation.
The court sought responses from Rajasthan officials, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Central Government.
- Who
- Shankar Lal Dahiya and other petitioners associated with the Adivasi Bhil Reservation Struggle Committee; the respondents include Rajasthan government officials, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Central Government.
- What
- A petition seeks 9 per cent sub-classification for Bhils within Rajasthan’s 12 per cent Scheduled Tribe reservation and a stay on ST-category appointments.
- When
- The petition was heard by a division bench; the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes wrote to the Chief Secretary on February 25.
- Where
- The case is before the Rajasthan High Court.
- Why
- The petitioners allege that Bhils have received inadequate representation and that authorities lack comprehensive data on ST communities’ social, educational and economic conditions.
- Requested Bhil sub-quota
- 9 per cent within the existing Scheduled Tribe reservation
- Existing ST reservation
- 12 per cent in Rajasthan
- Additional request
- A stay on appointments under the Scheduled Tribe category until the petition is decided
- Petitioners
- Shankar Lal Dahiya and others
- Petitioners’ organization
- Adivasi Bhil Reservation Struggle Committee
- Court bench
- Justices Inderjeet Singh and Sandeep Taneja
- Notice recipients
- The Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Personnel), National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Central Government