The Meghalaya Government has justified before the Supreme Court that reservation beyond 50 per cent is justified in the state.

The Meghalaya Government, while justifying its stand said that reservations over 50 per cent is necessary in the State because of its “extraordinary circumstances, peculiar features and a tribal population of over 85 per cent”.

Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar informed that Supreme Court that population of tribals in the State is 85.9 per cent as per the 2001 census.

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Kumar argued that there are extraordinary circumstances in Meghalaya, which is why the 50 per cent cap is rendered ‘inapplicable’ in the state.

Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar read out one of the paragraphs from the 1992 verdict which said: “While 50 per cent shall be the rule, it is necessary not to put out of consideration certain extraordinary situations inherent in the great diversity of this country and the people.”

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“It might happen that in far-flung and remote areas the population inhabiting those areas might, on account of their being out of the mainstream of national life and in view of conditions peculiar to and characteristical to them, need to be treated in a different way, some relaxation in this strict rule may become imperative. In doing so, extreme caution is to be exercised and a special case made out.”