On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha has passed the Constitution (127th) Amendment Bill to restore the states' power to make their own OBC lists. The bill was passed in Lok Sabha with a support of 385 members and no opposition to it. It was decided by the opposition parties to "cooperate" with the government in passing the bill and suspend their protest in the House.
The bill was moved by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar. He termed it as historic legislation that would benefit 671 castes in the country. Kumar said, "the bill will restore the states' rights to prepare their own lists of OBCs so that various communities can be given social and economic justice.""The bill should be considered as the 105th Constitution Amendment bill after being renumbered", he added. The minister said, "the government understands the feelings of members. The courts have repeatedly emphasised this ceiling and there is a need to give attention to the constitutional aspects."
Earlier, in August 2018, the Parliament passed a constitution amendment bill to give constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes.
As reported by Livemint, the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 inserts articles 338B of Indian Constitution, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes, and 342A that deals with the powers of the president to notify a particular caste as an SEBC and the power of Parliament to change the list. Article 366 (26C) defines SEBCs.