Lok Sabha unanimously passes Bill allowing states to make OBC list

The 127th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2021, which seeks to restore the state governments’ power to make their own lists of Other Backward Classes, has been passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, reported The Indian Express.

The legislation was passed in the Lower House with 385 members voting in favour and no member present in the Lok Sabha opposing it.

The Bill was introduced by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar on Monday, reported PTI.

The minister had said there was a need to amend Article 342A of the Constitution to sufficiently clarify that the state and Union Territories’ administrations had been empowered to prepare and keep their own list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.

The ministry had also noted that amendments had to be made to Articles 338B and 366 to maintain India’s federal system, according to PTI.

In 2018, the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act had introduced Article 338B that deals with the duties, structure and powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes. Article 342A deals with the president’s power to notify a specific caste as a Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and the power of Parliament to modify the list, reported PTI.

Article 366 (26C) provides the definition for a Socially and Educationally Backward Class.

On Tuesday, Kumar said there…

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