Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday accused governor Anusuiya Uikey of misusing constitutional powers over the alleged delay in her assent to two reservation amendment bills and asked whether she is waiting for some ‘muhurat’ (auspicious time).
His remarks came a day after the governor told the media to wait “till March” when asked about pending assent to the reservation bills.
“Is she waiting for some muhurat? We have to conduct admissions of children, exams of Vyapam, recruitment in police, recruitment of teachers, recruitment in health (department) all the recruitments are on hold,” Baghel said.
The governor’s House and the chief minister have been at loggerheads since last month over the latter’s pending assent to reservation bills passed by the state assembly.
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Reacting to one line remark from the governor, Baghel said the governor is misusing her powers.
The CM further said, “This is a misuse of the powers. What auspicious occasion will occur in March? The bills were passed in December and they are sitting on it. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is silent, bills are pending at the behest of the BJP… It is an injustice to the youth of the state.”
On December 3, 2022, the Chhattisgarh assembly passed two bills which increased reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) to 27% from the existing 14%, and for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community to 13% from 12% in public employment and admissions. The 32% reservation for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category was kept unchanged.
Besides, a 4% reservation provision was also provided to the Economic Weaker Section (EWS), taking the total extent of the reservation to 76%.
