New Delhi: After seeking the view of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), the Union Cabinet disregarded its "advice" against providing reservation for the community when it took the decision on Sunday night.
The Commission, which is mandated to provide its view on inclusion or exclusion of any community from the Central list of OBCs, had unanimously rejected the proposal for reservation for Jats, saying they were "not socially and educationally backward communities".
In its report submitted to the government a few days back, the NCBC had said that Jats do not fulfil the criteria and methodology for their inclusion in the central list of OBCs with regard to social and educational backwardness.
"Request for inclusion of `JAT` caste/community in the Central List of OBCs for the states of Haryana, Gujarat, NCT of Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan (Bharatpur & Dhaulpur Districts), Madhya Pradesh and Bihar be rejected as they are not socially and educationally backward communities," the report said.
Notwithstanding the rejection, the Cabinet yesterday went ahead and granted OBC status for the community.
Earlier, the Cabinet had on December 19 last year referred the matter to the Commission for its advice. The NCBC had disfavoured reservation for Jats earlier also.
Sources in the Commission said it is for the first time that government has disregarded its view on inclusion of communities in the central list of OBCs.
