Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Madhya Pradesh High Court Strikes Down 27% OBC Quota
The Madhya Pradesh High Court cancelled a law that raised the OBC reservation from 14% to 27%.
The law covered government jobs and higher education.
The judges said the state had not shown a special reason to go beyond the 50% limit set by the Supreme Court.
They also said the information they reviewed showed OBCs were adequately represented.
Recruitment agencies must now fill 13% of posts that were kept on hold from the unreserved-category list within three months.
The court’s order says some people appointed under the higher quota before September 29, 2022, can keep their jobs.
Their extra appointments will be accounted for in the next three recruitment drives.
Another report describes appointments above the 14% quota as invalid.
Congress and the OBC Mahasabha said they would challenge the ruling, while BJP leaders criticized how the 2019 law was prepared.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court invalidated the 2019 law that raised OBC reservation in government jobs and higher education from 14% to 27%.
The bench said the state had not shown exceptional circumstances to exceed the Supreme Court’s 50% reservation ceiling and found the reviewed data showed adequate OBC representation.
Recruitment agencies were directed to fill 13% of posts held pending the litigation from the unreserved-category selection list within three months.
The order says OBC candidates appointed under the enhanced quota from March 2019 to September 29, 2022, may keep their jobs, with excess appointments adjusted over three recruitment drives; a separate account says appointments above 14% were invalid.
Congress leaders and the OBC Mahasabha said they would challenge the ruling, while BJP leaders blamed the 2019 law’s preparation and said the state would consider further steps.
- Who
- The Madhya Pradesh High Court; the case concerns the state government, OBC candidates, recruitment agencies, and political parties.
- What
- The court struck down the 2019 law raising OBC reservation from 14% to 27%, restored the quota to 14%, and ordered held-back posts filled from the unreserved category.
- When
- Friday, October 9; the reports differ on the year, and one says the judgment was reserved on August 5, 2026.
- Where
- Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Why
- The court found no exceptional circumstances to justify exceeding the 50% reservation ceiling and said the data it reviewed indicated adequate OBC representation.
Supporters of the 27% OBC quota
Court ruling and criticism of the 2019 law
Whether the higher quota should remain
Supporters of the 27% OBC quota
Congress leaders and the OBC Mahasabha said they would challenge the ruling and continue to seek 27% OBC reservation.
Court ruling and criticism of the 2019 law
The High Court struck down the increase, finding no exceptional grounds to breach the 50% ceiling and saying the data showed adequate OBC representation.
Responsibility for the law’s failure
Supporters of the 27% OBC quota
Jitu Patwari and former commission chairman J P Dhanopia alleged that the state government presented the case poorly; Patwari accused the BJP government of conspiring against OBCs.
Court ruling and criticism of the 2019 law
BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal said the Congress government prepared the 2019 law hastily and without verifying facts, and should take responsibility for its legal shortcomings.
- Previous OBC quota
- 14%
- Quota set by 2019 law
- 27%
- Court’s ruling
- The 2019 ordinance and subsequent amendment were struck down as unconstitutional.
- Posts held pending litigation
- 13% of posts
- Deadline for filling posts
- Within three months, from the unreserved-category selection list.
- Court’s stated grounds
- No exceptional circumstances to exceed the 50% ceiling; data reviewed indicated adequate OBC representation.
- Earlier appointments
- One account says appointments from March 2019 to September 29, 2022, may be retained and excess posts adjusted over three recruitment drives; another reports appointments above 14% were invalid.
- Political responses
- Congress and the OBC Mahasabha said they would appeal; BJP leaders criticized the 2019 law’s preparation, and the state said it would consider further steps.
Sources
MP HC Quashes 27% OBC Quota, Restores 14% Cap Within 50% Limit
Striking down 27% quota, Madhya Pradesh High Court cites OBC chief ministers, quotes Rousseau
‘Unconstitutional’: Madhya Pradesh HC scraps law raising OBC quota from 14 per cent to 27 per cent
HC nixes 27 pc OBC quota in Madhya Pradesh; says law unconstitutional, passed in ‘undue haste’
MP High Court strikes down 27 pc OBC quota, restores 14 pc reservation