Guwahati: Assam government has decided to "hold in abeyance" the 10% quota for the economically weaker sections (EWS) in state government jobs, but the reservations under EWS would continue for admission in educational institutes and officials.

The EWS quota for direct hiring for Assam government jobs and services has been suspended till further notice, according to a statement from the State's Personnel Department on December 21.

According to the announcement, "the suspension of the EWS job quota will not have an impact on the positions that have already been posted, and reservation for the category will continue for admissions in the educational institutions." The 103rd Constitutional Amendment was upheld as lawful by the Supreme Court on November 7.

A month after the Supreme Court confirmed the constitutional legality of the 10% quota for the "poorest of the poor" among the advance castes, the notice was released.

The Apex Court issued its decision on a number of petitions contesting the legality of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, which took effect on January 14, 2019.

The Act was passed to advance the welfare of the underprivileged who are not protected by the policy of reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC).

Although it was never required in the states, it did provide the state government the option of granting reservations to the EWS for employment in state government positions and enrollment in state-run higher education institutions.

Right now, more than 12 states and the federal government have adopted the 10% reserve for EWS and Assam was one of them.

The household income of the beneficiary must be less than Rs 8 lakh per year in order to qualify for the EWS quota benefit; other sources of income, like as farming and business, are also acceptable.

A person falling under this group must own less than five acres of agricultural property, and their residence cannot be larger than 200 square metres.

ALSO READ: Assam CM inaugurated projects worth over Rs 973 cr in Dibrugarh