New Delhi:The Supreme Court Monday asked the Patna High Court to take up at an early date a plea seeking direction to the Bihar government to implement reservation for OBCs in local bodies by fulfilling the triple test laid down by it. In December 2021, the top court ruled reservation for OBCs in local bodies will not be allowed unless the government fulfils the triple test laid down in the Supreme Court's 2010 order.
The triple test required the state government to set up a dedicated commission to gather data on the backwardness of OBCs in every local body, specify the proportion of reservation in each local body in light of the commission's recommendations, and ensure that such reservation does not exceed 50 per cent of the total seats reserved for SC/ST/OBC together.
The top court had ruled that until the triple test criteria are fulfilled, the OBC seats will be re-notified as general category seats. A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hima Kohli noted that the municipal elections are to be held on October 10, 2022, and said it would be appropriate if the High Court takes up the petition at an early date.