MP High Court Directs Chief Secretary to Enforce 50% Reservation Ceiling

The Madhya Pradesh High Court's principal bench at Jabalpur has directed the chief secretary to personally monitor compliance with the 50% reservation ceiling across all departments. The direction came during a hearing on reservation in promotions, with the next hearing scheduled for December 1.

The court instructed the chief secretary to supervise that no department promotes more than 50% incumbents from reserved categories until the petition is decided or the Supreme Court rules on related cases. The HC is hearing a case concerning the state's proposal to increase OBC reservation from 14% to 27%, which would exceed the constitutional 50% ceiling.

The court noted that while promotion is a fundamental right, the Supreme Court's landmark Indra Sawhney ruling establishes that the 50% reservation ceiling cannot be breached directly or indirectly. The matter remains pending before the Supreme Court, with an April 2026 order directing appeals to be placed before appropriate benches within three months.