Supreme Court Sends OBC Reservation Case Back to Madhya Pradesh High Court for Fresh Hearing

Madhya Pradesh | 21 Feb 2026 The Supreme Court of India has sent back a group of petitions related to the increase in OBC reservation in Madhya Pradesh to the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The matter concerns the state government’s 2019 decision to raise the Other Backward Classes quota from 14 per cent to 27 per cent in government jobs and educational institutions. A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe passed the order on February 19. While remanding the pleas, the court asked the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court to form a special bench to hear the matter and decide it within three months, keeping in mind the long delay and urgency involved. Explaining its reasoning, the bench said, “We are of the opinion that the High Court of Madhya Pradesh will be in the best position to consider, take a holistic view of the need as well as the legality of the affirmative action for the state.” It added that while reservation is a constitutional responsibility of the state, the concerned high court is best suited to examine the legality and validity of such policy decisions at the first stage. The apex court also noted that hearing the issue directly under Article 32 without a high court ruling would be inappropriate. It clarified, “However, we can balance the interest by requesting the high court to ensure that these petitions are taken up and disposed of expeditiously.” At the same time, the Supreme Court made it clear that it has not expressed any view on the merits of the case or on any interim arrangements while the petitions remain pending. Supreme Court Sends OBC Reservation Case Back to Madhya Pradesh High Court for Fresh Hearing The Supreme Court of India has sent back a group of petitions related to the increase in OBC reservation in Madhya Pradesh to the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The matter concerns the state government’s 2019 decision to raise the Other Backward Classes quota from 14 per cent to 27 per cent in government jobs and educational institutions. A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe passed the order on February 19. While remanding the pleas, the court asked the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court to form a special bench to hear the matter and decide it within three months, keeping in mind the long delay and urgency involved. Explaining its reasoning, the bench said, “We are of the opinion that the High Court of Madhya Pradesh will be in the best position to consider, take a holistic view of the need as well as the legality of the affirmative action for the state.” It added that while reservation is a constitutional responsibility of the state, the concerned high court is best suited to examine the legality and validity of such policy decisions at the first stage. The apex court also noted that hearing the issue directly under Article 32 without a high court ruling would be inappropriate. It clarified, “However, we can balance the interest by requesting the high court to ensure that these petitions are taken up and disposed of expeditiously.” At the same time, the Supreme Court made it clear that it has not expressed any view on the merits of the case or on any interim arrangements while the petitions remain pending.