Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court today asked the state Government to file an affidavit in response to four petitions challenging the 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutes for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) of the general category.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi directed Advocate General Kamal Trivedi to file a single affidavit in reply to the four petitions by next Wednesday, after he sought more time for it.

In the wake of violent agitation by the Patel community seeking OBC quota, the BJP government in Gujarat on May 1 issued an ordinance providing 10 per cent quota for EWS in the general category with annual family income cap of Rs 6 lakh.

The petitioners have separately challenged the new quota, saying it violates the Supreme Court’s judgement in `Indra Sawhney vs Union of India’ capping the total reservation at 50 per cent.

Petitions have been filed by Jayantbhai Manani, Dulari Basarge, a student, I H Syed and a group of parents of general category students who aspire to get admission in the medical colleges.

PTI