HC refuses to vacate stay on Jat reservation

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to vacate the stay granted by Manohar Lal Khattar-led government on its decision to grant reservation in jobs and educational institutions to Jats and five other communities. Petitioner's advocate, Mukesh Kumar Verma said the state government should ensure that they would not touch the merits of the case, adding that time should be given to file the application. "The Haryana Government said there was urgency in this matter. Earlier in March, the high court had stayed reservation for the Jat community reviving a politically divisive issue for the Haryana Government," said Randhir Singh Bhandaran, who represents the Jat Akarshan Sangharsh. The Haryana government had passed two bills following the protests. The Haryana Backward Classes Bill, 2016, and Haryana Backward Classes Commission Bill, 2016. They proposed reservation for Jats and five other casts, including Jat Sikh, Ror, Bishnoi, Tyagi, and Mulla Jat.