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‘50% ceiling in reservation only for SC/ST, OBC’: SC in EWS quota verdict

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The Supreme Court on Monday said the 50 per cent ceiling for reservation – which was fixed in 1992 in Mandal Commission case by a nine-judge bench – is applicable only to the SC/ST and OBC categories and the 10 per cent reservation economically weaker section (EWS) was over and above the limit.

Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, Bela M. Trivedi, and J.B. Pardiwala upheld the validity of the EWS quota. However, Chief Justice U.U. Lalit and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, held the amendments by creating a different kind of criteria, becomes a gateway for further infractions which, in fact, would result in compartmentalization.

Justice Bhat, who authored the judgment for himself and on behalf of the Chief Justice, said: “The impugned amendments by creating a different kind of criteria, have to be viewed separately and that Indra Sawhney was confined to reservations in Articles 15(4) and 16 (4) is because permitting the breach of the 50 per cent rule as it were through this reasoning, becomes a gateway for further infractions whereby which in fact would result in compartmentalisation; the rule of reservation could dealt well become rule of equality or the right to equality, could then easily be reduced to right to reservation…”

He added that the observations of Dr B.R. Ambedkar have to be kept in mind that the reservations are to be seen temporary and exceptional or else they would “eat up the rule of equality”.

Justice Bhat said: “I find that there is no need for a specific finding on the 50 per cent cap, or its breach of the basic structure; however I deem it necessary to sound a note of caution, on the consequence of upholding the reservation, thereby, breaching the 50 per cent limit.”

He also sounded cautionary note as 69 per cent reservation in Tamil Nadu was pending adjudication and the majority view may seal its fate without hearing the parties concerned.

“The view of the members of this bench constituting the majority – that creation of another class which can be a recipient of up to 10 per cent of the reservation, over and above 50 per cent, which is permitted under Articles 15(4) or 16(4), in my considered opinion, therefore, has a direct bearing on the likely outcome in the challenge in that proceeding. I would therefore sound this cautionary note since this judgment may well seal the fate of the pending litigation – without the benefit of hearing in those proceedings,” he said.

On the other hand, Justice Maheshwari said the ceiling limit itself is not inflexible and in any case, and it applies only to the reservations envisaged by Articles 15(4), 15(5) and 16(4) of the Constitution.

He said that the 50 per cent ceiling proposition would obviously be applied only to those reservations which were in place before the amendment in question. “Prescription of ceiling limit of 50 per cent, being apparently for the benefit of general merit candidates, does not provide any justified cause to the candidates standing in the bracket of already available reservation to raise any grievance about extra 10 per cent reservation for the benefit of another section of society in need of affirmative action,” he said.

Crime

Bihar: BSc Student Shot Dead By Father-In-Law In Front Of His Wife In Darbhanga Over Intercaste Marriage, Accused Beaten Up By Hostel Students

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Darbhanga: A shocking incident surfaced from Bihar’s Darbhanga, where a man allegedly shot dead his son-in-law in front of his daughter. The deceased has been identified as Rahul Kumar, a 25-year-old second-year student of BSc (Nursing) at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital.

The accused, Premshankar Jha, opened fire at Kumar in front of his newlywedded wife, Tannu Priya. Jha was upset due to Priya’s intercaste marriage with Kumar. The victim was rushed to a hospital. However, he could not survive.

Priya is a first-year nursing student. She got married to Kumar four months ago. They reportedly stayed on different floors in the same hostel building. The woman notices that a person wearing a hoodie approached her husband on Tuesday evening.

“He had a gun. It was my father, Premshankar Jha. He shot my husband in the chest, in front of my eyes. My husband fell into my lap,” she said as quoted by the media house. The woman alleged that her whole family was part of the conspiracy to kill her husband.

“We had also gone to court and said that my father and my brothers may harm me or my husband,” Priya added. Kumar’s friends also beat up Jha after he shot at the victim. He was also rushed to a hospital. The video of students beating up the accused also surfaced online.

After receiving the information, a senior official rushed to the spot. Jha was taken into custody. “A love affair was ongoing with the deceased, and a love marriage had taken place in April 2025. After the death incident, the people present there caught and beat Prem Shankar Jha, due to which Prem Shankar Jha is injured and has been sent to PMCH Patna for treatment,” the Darbhanga Police said.

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National News

Devastating Visuals: 2 Cloudbursts Reported In Uttarakhand; 4 Dead, 50 Missing

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Uttarkashi: Two cloudbursts were reported in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday, 5 August 2025. The cloudbursts caused severe flash floods along the Khir Ganga River, devastating villages including Dharali and Tharali.

At least four people were reported dead, and several others were missing, as villages were washed away after a major cloudburst struck the Dharali area near Harsil. Another cloudburst was reported in Sukhi Top, approximately 16 kilometers away. Resuce operations are underway.

Devastating visuals have surfaced from the scene. The video shows a strong water current flowing down the hills, leaving a trail of destruction behind.

The footage shows the flash floods destroying several houses within seconds. Whistles can be heard, blown to alert residents. The force of the water is so intense that the destruction of homes appears as though toy houses are being swept away. People can also be seen fleeing for their lives. At least 50 hotels are believed to be submerged or washed away.

The Jyotirmath-Malari motor road has been washed away due to the incessant rains and flooding. Authorities have requested travelers and locals to avoid unnecessary travel.

PM Modi Condoles Loss Of Lives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of those who lost thier lives in the cloudburst.

“I express my condolences to the people affected by this tragedy in Dharali, Uttarkashi. Along with this, I pray for the well-being of all the victims. I have spoken to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami ji and obtained information about the situation. Under the supervision of the state government, relief and rescue teams are engaged in every possible effort. No stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people,” he said in a post on X.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

Emergecy Numbers Issued

Uttarkashi District Emergency Operation Centre has issued the following emergency numbers: 01374222126, 01374222722, 9456556431

NDRF Teams

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Indo Tibetan Border Patrol (ITBP) teams have been deployed for rescue operations.

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Former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik Dies At 79 In Delhi Hospital

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New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik passed away on Tuesday after a prolong illness in New Delhi. Malik was of 79 years. He breathed his last at around 1 pm at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. According to reports, he was suffering from kidney-related ailments.

Malik served as the 10th and last Governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, from August 2018 to October 2019. It was during his tenure that Article 370 was abrogated in J&K on August 5, 2019.

Satyapal Malik’s Political Career:

Prior to serving as Jammu and Kashmir’s governor, Malik was appointed the Governor of Bihar in 2017. In 2018, he was also given the additional charge of Odisha. Later, he was appointed Governor of Goa. He also served as the Governor of Meghalaya until October 2022.

Malik was born in Hisawada village of Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat in a Jat family on July 24, 1946. In 1968, the former J7K Governor began his political career after elected as the students union president. In 1974, Malik was elected an MLA of Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal. He also served as a Rajya Sabha MP. He was elected as Lok Sabha MP from Aligarh on Janata Dal ticket in 1989.

In 1996, Malik again contested the Lok Sabha elections from Aligarh. However, he lost the polls. In 2012, Malik also served appointed National Vice-President of the BJP.

Satyapal Malik’s Criticism For The Narendra Modi Government:

In recent times, the former J&K Governor was in the news for his criticism of the Narendra Modi government. In an interview in 2023, he alleged lapses in security arrangements which led to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. He claimed that the Centre turned down the CRPF’s request for aircraft for its convoy movement.

CRPF soldiers were attacked when they were travelling by road in Pulwama district. Notably, he was the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir when the attack took place. At least 40 CRPF soldiers lost their live sin the terror attack.

Malik also supported the farmers’ protest against the three farm laws passed by the Centre in 2020.

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