Centre should seek review of SC verdict on quotas at the earliest: Azad

New Delhi [India], Feb 10 (ANI): Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday sought review of Supreme Court's verdict which has said that reservation in promotions for government jobs is not a fundamental right.
"I had thought that he (Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot) will say that the government will go to Supreme Court today and get this reversed. If the Supreme Court does not reverse this then they will bring a Bill into the House to make this null and void. It's no reply that government has taken a view on this at the highest level," Azad said in Rajya Sabha.
"It's a serious matter pertaining to the future of 1/4th population of India. I request Centre to hold a Cabinet meeting and say that they will move to Supreme Court, asking them to review and withdraw it. If that doesn't happen then they will bring a Bill to make it null and void," he added.
Gehlot had on Monday told the Lok Sabha that the issue was very important and the government was discussing it "at a high level". He said neither the opinion of union government was sought nor was it made a party to the case in the Supreme Court.
He said that Supreme Court verdict about states not being bound to provide reservation in appointments came in the wake of a decision of the Congress government in Uttarakhand in 2012.
Congress MPs and some other Opposition parties staged a walkout after they were not given permission to speak following the minister's brief statement in the House.
"Here, I want to make it clear that in this matter, neither was the Government of India was made a party nor an affidavit sought," he said.
The minister said the petition was filed due to the decision of the Uttarakhand government taken in September 2012 about not implementing reservations in promotions.
"It will be appropriate to mention here that there was a Congress government in Uttarakhand in 2012. Our government is committed to implementing measures for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. After considering it a high level, the Government of India will take appropriate steps," he said.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury sought to speak after Gehlot's remarks but Speaker Om Birla said that there cannot be further discussion on the issue after the minister's statement.
The Supreme Court had on Friday said that reservation in promotions for government jobs is not a fundamental right. The top court also said the States cannot be directed to provide promotions to the members of the SC/ST community. (ANI)