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The Supreme Court has issued notice on a petition challenging rules for reservations in technical courses for higher studies in the state of Mizoram.

A bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra issued notice in the plea by Mizoram Chakma Students union, against the notification of the Mizoram (Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses) (Amendment) Rules in May 2021.

It is the case of the petitioner(s) that the notification discriminates against non-Mizo Scheduled Tribes of Mizoram and that it is violative of Articles 14, 15, 16(4) and 21 of the Constitution.

"...the impugned notification is unconstitutional as it is discriminatory and violates the right to equality of all persons guaranteed under Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. They are discriminatory towards candidates belonging to the Non-Mizo Scheduled Tribes of the State,” the plea states

The petitioner has pointed out that the notification arbitrarily sub-classified the Scheduled Tribes of Mizoram without any basis.

“The reservations fail to serve the purpose of achieving social justice as 93% of seats for higher technical education have been exclusively reserved for permanent residents of Mizoram belonging to Category I, which consists solely of the Zo ethnic tribe or the majority Mizos. On the other hand, a mere 1% of seats have been designated for ‘children of other local permanent Scheduled Tribe (ST) (Non-Zo) residents of the State of Mizoram’, who are placed in Category-II,” it has been averred.

The bench has now agreed to hear the plea on July 24.

Case Title: Mizoram Chakma Students Union Vs. Union of India