Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to move to the Supreme Court to push for 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has directed Advocate General Prashant Singh to file an application for an early hearing, ensuring the matter is addressed at the highest judicial level. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting attended by officials from the law, general administration, and finance departments.
Chief Minister Yadav emphasized that his government is committed to implementing 27% OBC reservation. He stated that various petitions regarding this issue were already under litigation before his government took office. “Our government has made it clear that we are in favor of 27% reservation for OBCs. We have asked the Advocate General to approach the Supreme Court for an early hearing. Once the court makes a decision, we will ensure its implementation without delay,” Yadav said.
Additionally, the Chief Minister mentioned that the reservation framework for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) should also be clearly defined to avoid confusion arising from conflicting court decisions.
The OBC reservation issue has been entangled in legal disputes for several years. On January 28, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the government’s decision to grant 27% reservation to OBCs. This decision was expected to clear the way for implementing the increased quota.
However, legal challenges have persisted. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing nearly 70 petitions related to OBC reservation. The Madhya Pradesh government had already transferred these cases from the High Court to the Supreme Court on September 2, 2024, seeking a final verdict.
March 2019: The Kamal Nath-led Congress government increased OBC reservation from 14% to 27%.
March 2019: The Madhya Pradesh High Court imposed a stay, citing that total reservation cannot exceed 50% as per Supreme Court rulings.
September 2021: The General Administration Department (GAD) issued a circular allowing 27% OBC reservation, excluding certain subjects.
August 2023: The High Court introduced the 87:13 formula, temporarily holding back 13% of the posts affected by the increased reservation.
January 28, 2025: The High Court dismissed petitions challenging the 87:13 formula, effectively allowing the 27% reservation.
February 13, 2025: The MP government announced its decision to approach the Supreme Court for a final ruling on the matter.
The 87:13 Formula and Its Implications
The 87:13 formula was introduced by the Madhya Pradesh government to ensure that recruitments could continue while awaiting a final court decision on OBC reservation. According to this approach:
87% of posts are filled based on existing reservation norms.
13% of posts—which correspond to the additional quota granted to OBCs—are kept on hold until the court gives a final ruling.
This formula was proposed in 2022 after recruitment processes were stalled due to legal uncertainties. The High Court approved this temporary arrangement, but recruitments remained largely frozen as litigations dragged on.
The decision to move to the Supreme Court has sparked political debates. Congress state president Jitu Patwari accused the ruling BJP government of using OBC reservation as a political tool without taking concrete action.
“How long will these statements continue? The Minister says, ‘We have asked, we have thought, we have believed’—but where is the implementation? The BJP government has always misled OBCs. Only the Congress government has worked seriously to ensure 27% reservation,” Patwari tweeted.
In contrast, BJP leaders argue that it was the Kamal Nath-led Congress government that created confusion by increasing OBC reservation beyond the 50% ceiling set by the Supreme Court, leading to years of legal complications. They claim that the current BJP government is actively working to resolve the issue legally and ensure smooth implementation.
Before the Kamal Nath government’s 2019 decision, Madhya Pradesh followed this reservation policy in government jobs:
OBC: 14%
SC: 16%
ST: 20%
Unreserved: 50%
With the increase in OBC reservation to 27%, the total reservation percentage rose to 63%, leading to legal challenges. The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s 2020 stay order reverted OBC reservation to 14% until the Supreme Court provides clarity.
Due to the prolonged legal battle, recruitment in Madhya Pradesh has been severely affected. Many MPPSC (Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission) recruitments have been stalled, leading to frustration among job seekers. The government has faced criticism for not resolving the matter sooner, but officials argue that court-imposed restrictions have left them with limited options.
With the Supreme Court now set to hear the matter, thousands of aspirants awaiting government jobs in Madhya Pradesh are hoping for a final resolution. The Advocate General is expected to file the petition in the coming days, seeking an expedited hearing.
The Supreme Court’s decision on this matter will determine the future of OBC reservation in Madhya Pradesh. If the court upholds the 27% reservation, it will mark a major victory for the OBC community. However, if the 50% reservation ceiling is reaffirmed, the state government may need to restructure its policies to balance all categories.
