The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday stayed the Haryana government’s law guaranteeing 75% reservation to locals in private sector jobs.
The court of justice Ajay Tewari and justice Pankaj Jain, admitting multiple petitions against the implementation of the law - Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020, issued the direction to stay the law.
“There were seven-eight petitions before the court surrounding law guaranteeing 75% reservation to locals in private sector jobs in Haryana. The court has admitted the petitions and stayed the law,” Tushar Sharma, counsel for one of the petitioners – Manesar Industrial Welfare Association, told The Hindu.
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said the government would fight for the 75% reservation. “We will continue to fight for employment opportunities of Haryanvi youth #75%reservation,” he said in a tweet, after the court decision.
Industry bodies’ plea
Three industry associations from Gurugram, Faridabad and Rewari had sought judicial recourse. They had submitted that the new law went against constitutional provisions and the basic principle of merit underpinning the private sector growth.
On January 15, 2022, the government notified the “Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020”. The law provides for 75% of new employment for local candidates having salary of less than ₹30,000 a month in various privately managed companies, societies, trusts, limited liability partnership firms, partnership firms etc.
