Northeast Desk, 26th June: National People’s Party (NPP) leader and Meghalaya Cabinet Minister Rakkam A Sangma issued a stark warning on June 25 regarding potential legal challenges if any changes are made to the State Reservation Policy (SRP). Addressing reporters, Sangma responded to concerns that the reservation policy might have contributed to the NPP’s recent defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, as suggested by former NPP president Dr. WR Kharlukhi.
Sangma emphasized the constitutional provisions and the Supreme Court’s judgment that caps state reservations at 50 percent. “In view of the clear constitutional provision and in view of the Supreme Court judgement about the ceiling of 50 per cent reservation for any state, I think that any changes (made to the SRP) may have a serious legal scrutiny in the eyes of law,” he stated.
He further explained that the reservation policy, often misunderstood and misinterpreted by some political parties, was established just nine days before Meghalaya attained statehood on January 12, 1972, as a response to rising unemployment.
Additionally, Sangma highlighted the efforts of the expert committee formed by the state government to gather suggestions from stakeholders. He stressed that any “adverse changes” to the reservation policy would not benefit the indigenous population of Meghalaya.
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