Major setback for Haryana government! Supreme Court holds 75 percent quota for locals in private sector ‘unconstitutional’

A petition was filed against the law in Punjab and Haryana HC, challenging the Haryana government’s decision on the Haryana law that provided 75 percent reservation for local people in private sector jobs.

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday declared as “unconstitutional” the 75% reservation for locals in Haryana in private sector jobs with a monthly salary of less than Rs 30,000. To recall, the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act 2020 came into force in March last year. The Act provided for 75 percent reservation in Haryana industries for the state’s domicile.

According to a Live Law report, Justices GS Sandhawalia and Justice Harpreet Kaur Jeewan said the “act (the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020) is unconstitutional and violative of Part III of the Constitution.”

The law was introduced in the State Assembly in 2020, with the backdrop: “The influx of large numbers of migrants competing for low-paid jobs has a significant impact on local infrastructure and housing and leads to the proliferation of slums, leading to environmental problems. and health problems. Therefore, giving preference to local candidates in low-paid jobs is socially, economically and environmentally desirable and in the interest of the general public.”

After the introduction of the 75 percent reservation law in the private sector, there was reportedly discontent in the reserved category due to the revised condition of five years instead of 15 years.

A petition was filed against the law in Punjab and Haryana HC challenging the Haryana government’s decision on the Haryana Act which provided 75 percent reservation for local people in private sector jobs with a monthly salary of less than Rs 30,000.

On March 17, 2022, the court stayed the ruling in the case.