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Politics
Rajasthan Government Defends OBC Reservation in Local Body Elections, Cites Survey Data
✍️ Amar Ujala · Rajasthan
🗓 16 Sep 2026, 08:31 PM
👁 10
The Rajasthan government upheld the OBC quota in local body polls, citing the State Election Commission's house‑to‑house survey and demographic data, while a petitioner seeks a higher share.
The Rajasthan administration has responded to a petition challenging the reservation of seats for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in local body and panchayat elections. It argued that the quota is justified on the basis of a comprehensive house‑to‑house survey conducted by the State Election Commission and the demographic profile of voters.
The government emphasized that the reservation conforms to the constitutional ceiling of 50% for backward‑class representation. According to the commission’s data, OBCs constitute roughly half of the electorate in many constituencies, making the current allocation proportionate.
The petitioner, representing a segment of the OBC community, contended that the quota should be increased beyond the existing level. However, the state’s submission to the High Court relied on the survey findings and legal precedents that limit the overall reservation to 50%.
The High Court will now examine the arguments, but the Rajasthan government maintains that any alteration must respect the Supreme Court‑mandated ceiling and the statutory framework governing reservations.
The government emphasized that the reservation conforms to the constitutional ceiling of 50% for backward‑class representation. According to the commission’s data, OBCs constitute roughly half of the electorate in many constituencies, making the current allocation proportionate.
The petitioner, representing a segment of the OBC community, contended that the quota should be increased beyond the existing level. However, the state’s submission to the High Court relied on the survey findings and legal precedents that limit the overall reservation to 50%.
The High Court will now examine the arguments, but the Rajasthan government maintains that any alteration must respect the Supreme Court‑mandated ceiling and the statutory framework governing reservations.