New Delhi: The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has questioned the Kerala government’s decision to extend Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation benefits to Muslims and Christians, calling it “religious reservation for political gain.”
NCBC Chairman Hans Raj Ahir said the commission has sought a detailed report from the state government within 15 days, asking it to explain the data and rationale behind the inclusion. He said OBC reservation should be based on social and educational backwardness, not religion, and that any such inclusion must rely on verifiable surveys.
“OBC reservation cannot be provided entirely in the name of religion. It should be given only after identifying the socially and educationally backward sections within the same religion,” Ahir said.
The commission also recommended that Kerala ensure proper implementation of OBC quotas in local body elections. The issue has drawn attention amid ongoing debates over reservation policies in Kerala, where some Muslim and Christian subgroups are already included in the state’s OBC list.
While the Kerala government has yet to respond to the NCBC’s latest statement, political observers say the issue reflects the continuing tension between social justice measures and electoral politics in the state. The commission’s intervention is expected to renew discussion on how backwardness is identified and addressed across religious communities.
