The Centre is preparing to introduce reservation for Dalits, tribals and other backward classes (OBCs) in the appointment of district judges, a move that didn’t find favour with the higher judiciary in the past. In November 2014, the Patna high court had struck down a Bihar government notification that sought to provide reservation for SCs/STs and OBCs in lower court judges. In December, the Supreme Court rejected a plea by a district-level judge from Uttarakhand, who demanded a direction to the high court to reserve seats for SC/ST judges. They (higher judiciary) are free to reject it. You have to first see whether the government can constitute this judicial service,” said Manish Tewari, Congress spokesperson and a Supreme Court lawyer.

Source: Hindustan Times October 17, 2016 17:39 UTC