New Delhi: A bandh was observed on Wednesday across parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and other states to protest the Supreme Court’s ‘quota within a quota’ ruling concerning reservations in state government jobs and colleges for SC and ST candidates.
The strike, organized by two dozen Dalit and Adivasi groups—including the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti—and supported by political parties such as Bihar’s Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party in Madhya Pradesh, drew significant backing. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, various Left parties, and the Congress—leading the INDIA opposition bloc, which includes the JMM and RJD—also voiced support.
In Bihar, there were clashes between protesters and the police in Patna. A video posted on X by news agency ANI shows police lathi-charging and assaulting protesters on nearly-empty streets.
Ashok Kumar Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, stated, “The situation was far from peaceful. The protesters took the law into their own hands, disrupting travel for the public. We attempted to persuade them, but they were uncooperative. Consequently, we had to use minimal force to disperse them.”
Elsewhere in Patna, travelers faced disruptions as protesters blocked railway tracks, causing delays for several trains, including the Darbhanga-New Delhi Sampark Kranti Superfast Express. Members of the Bhim Army, holding posters and banners, climbed aboard the train, alleging a “conspiracy” to deny SC and ST communities their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
In Jehanabad, Bihar, agitators obstructed National Highway 83, a key route connecting Patna to Gaya, causing widespread disruptions across several cities, including the state capital. The blockade forced many to walk long distances due to a lack of public transport.
Several private schools in Patna were closed, while those that remained open faced challenges due to suspended bus services, complicating the situation for parents and students.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Noida, adjacent to Delhi, police forces were deployed in large numbers to maintain order. Shiv Hari Meena, Joint Commissioner of Police in Noida, reported that officers conducted foot marches to ensure law and order.
In Rajasthan, educational institutions in seven districts—Jaipur, Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Deeg, Jaisalmer, and Bharatpur—were closed for the day, and exams in Kota were postponed. Congress leader Tika Ram Jully accused the ruling BJP of attempting to “weaken” the reservation system.
On the government’s side, Union Skill Development Minister Jayant Singh Chaudhary stated, “The Supreme Court has provided its comments, the Law Minister clarified in Parliament, and the Cabinet has expressed its opinion… there is nothing further to add.”
The Bharat Bandh is led by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), which is calling for “justice and equity for SCs, STs, and OBCs” in response to a Supreme Court verdict perceived as contrary to the landmark Indira Sawhney case of 1992, which established the framework for reservations in India.
On August 1, a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ruled, with a 6:1 majority, that states have the authority to create sub-classifications within SCs and STs. This allows for smaller quotas within the broader reservation to benefit the more disadvantaged groups within these categories. Chief Justice Chandrachud noted, “Historical and empirical evidence shows that SCs are a socially heterogeneous group.”
The NACDAOR has urged the government to overturn the Supreme Court’s judgment, arguing that it jeopardizes the constitutional rights of SCs and STs. Additionally, the organization is advocating for new legislation to ensure reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs by incorporating such quotas into the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court’s significant ruling has ignited a predictable controversy and elicited some noteworthy reactions, including a comment from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), a coalition partner of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP. LJP leader Chirag Paswan, a Union Minister, stated that the court’s classification of SCs, based on ‘untouchability,’ was not addressed in the ruling. He announced that his party will seek a review of the decision.
