By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 7, 2021:
The 50 per cent ceiling in favour of SC, ST and BCC together has been brought in compliance with the orders of the High Court in the light of decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court in K. Krishna Murthy case.

The upper limit of reservation in respect of SCs, STs and BCCs in ULBs should not exceed 50% and the individual reservation of BCC should not exceed 27 percent. The Bill has been cleared by the House amending the relevant provisions of the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950 and the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003.

Apart from the Odisha Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021, the Odisha Panchayat Laws (amendment) Bill, 2021 was also introduced in the State Assembly today. Once the Bill is passed, legal impediments to Panchayat polls in the State will be removed.

The Bill, which provides reservation ceiling at 50 per cent for SC, ST and OBC, also will facilitate the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) polls in early 2022, officials said.