Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government said on Sunday that it will implement the 10% reservations for the economically backward sections of the general category from January 14.
On Saturday, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the constitutional amendment to allow the 10% quota.
“The economically weaker sections from the general category will get 10 per cent reservation in admissions to higher education and government jobs starting Uttarayan on January 14,” the state government said in a release.
The new quota will also be implemented in admissions and jobs that were advertised before January 14 but for which the actual process has not started, it said.
In such cases, fresh announcement about the admission process or jobs will have to be made.
However, if the recruitment or admission process – tests or interviews – has started before January 14, the 10% quota would not apply, the release added.
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Gujarat Congress chief Amit Chavda criticised the announcement, saying it will create confusion.
“The government has said it will implement the provision from January 14, which is Uttarayan holiday. The chief minister should explain the logic behind this announcement and the process to implement it,” he said.
The BJP government should also explain the status of a stay granted by the Supreme Court on the similar 10% reservation for EWS category in Gujarat that was introduced when Anandiben Patel was chief minister, Chavda added.
The “hurriedly made announcement” will create confusion among the candidates, he claimed.