The hurdle of fresh determination of OBC (Other Backward Class) reservation in local civic bodies has now been removed. The Raj Bhavan has given the green signal to the ordinance amending the Municipal Corporation and Municipality Act regarding OBC reservation and other provisions. With this, the way for civic elections in the state has also been cleared.
After the reservation is determined, the notification for the election can be issued by the end of this month. Not only this, the government has also given relief to those people who wish to contest civic elections, whose second child is a twin while their first child is alive. It will be considered as one unit and such people will be able to contest elections even if the number of children is three.
Will not be able to remain a member of the civic body if found guilty
It has also been provided that if the Municipal Council President and Vice President are found guilty in the case of financial irregularities or any complaint, then they will not be able to remain a member of the civic body. Also, they will not be able to contest elections for five years. As per the order of the Supreme Court, OBC reservation in municipal bodies has to be determined afresh. For this, a single dedicated commission has been constituted for contemporary empirical investigation of the nature, character and implications of backwardness of OBCs in the bodies. It has submitted its report to the government. As per the recommendation of the commission, an ordinance was earlier brought to amend the Municipal Corporation and Municipality Act for determining reservation. It was placed in the summer session of the Assembly held in August, but then the subject was handed over to the Select Committee. The committee recommended to continue the study on this subject as well as to conduct elections on the basis of the census of the year 2011. After this, the government again sent the ordinance amending the Municipal Corporation and Municipality Act to the Raj Bhavan for approval. After taking opinion from the Law Department, now the Raj Bhavan has approved it. It has been said in the ordinance that OBC reservation will be decided on the basis of the recommendation of the dedicated commission. It has also been clarified that the reservation for Scheduled Castes, Tribes and OBCs will not exceed the limit of 50 percent. If the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes is 50 percent or more, then OBCs will not get reservation there.
