Bhopal: The long-standing battle for 27% OBC reservation in Madhya Pradesh appears to be heading towards resolution, as the Supreme Court has agreed to hold daily hearings on the matter starting September 23, 2025. The case has been marked as ‘Top of the Board’, meaning it will be heard continuously every day until a final verdict is reached.
This major development comes after the relentless efforts of the Madhya Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, who has consistently maintained the constitutional validity and necessity of extending 27% reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public service recruitment.
What the Case Is About
The matter pertains to the Madhya Pradesh Public Service (Reservation for SC, ST, and OBC) Amendment Act, 2019, which raised the OBC reservation to 27%. However, this was challenged in the High Court, leading to a stay on its implementation in certain sectors — causing significant hurdles in new recruitment processes.
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Supreme Court Accepts Government’s Stand
During the recent hearing, the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, and Advocate General of MP, Prashant Singh, argued that the ongoing stay on OBC reservation has resulted in a recruitment bottleneck, severely affecting administrative functioning. They urged the Supreme Court to expedite proceedings given the public interest involved.
The Supreme Court found merit in these arguments and agreed to begin daily final hearings on the matter from September 23, 2025.
CM Mohan Yadav: “We Will Ensure 27% Reservation”
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, while addressing the issue during the recent Monsoon Session of the Assembly, reiterated the government’s strong stance:
“We are boldly stating that we will provide 27% reservation. In departments where there’s no court stay, we have already implemented it. Where the matter is pending, we have officially submitted our position in favor of 27% reservation.”
He also accused the Congress of double standards, stating that the opposition party had presented weak and misleading data during its tenure, resulting in the current legal complications.
What This Means for OBC Aspirants
The Supreme Court’s decision to fast-track the hearing brings a ray of hope for thousands of OBC candidates who have been awaiting clarity for years. If the verdict favors the state, it could potentially lead to the restoration and implementation of the full 27% reservation in public recruitment across all departments.
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