Union Minister Athawale says there is need to increase reservation cap beyond 50%

‘This will extend social justice to the downtrodden sections’

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramadas Athawale on Sunday said that there is a need to increase reservation cap beyond 50% to accommodate backward and poorer sections from all communities and a nation-wide caste census will help reach social, economic, and educational benefits to the needy. “The Supreme Court has put a cap of 50% for the reservation matrix. However, to extend social justice to the downtrodden sections, reservation has to be increased. The issue has been discussed with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he told reporters here. Stating that a constitutional amendment is required to increase reservation, he said that the 102nd Amendment to the Constitution envisages power to provide reservation to the state government. “All these are under consideration.” Mr. Athawale said that the poorer and backward sections of all communities should be eligible to seek benefits under reservation. “However, it is increasingly being noticed that the benefits are being cornered by those ineligible for the benefits. Economically stronger sections among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have cornered the benefits. This has to be prevented.”