Youth For Equality
For Equality Protection in India
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ABOUT US
Youth For Equality (YFE) is a research and advocacy organization working for merit, equality and evidence-based public policy.
- Our core belief: Merit is a Public Good. It should be protected and encouraged because it contributes to the long-term progress of the country.
- Who are our members? YFE brings together people from diverse backgrounds, including doctors, engineers, lawyers, bureaucrats, judges, advocates, academicians, chartered accountants, students and other professionals.
- What we do: We conduct research on caste, reservation, education and constitutional equality using facts, data and evidence.
- Legal advocacy: We challenge fallacious caste-based government policies and decisions that we believe are unconstitutional, unfair or not supported by evidence.
- Court cases: YFE actively takes up important constitutional issues before the Supreme Court and various High Courts. Since its inception, YFE has consistently worked through research, public advocacy and litigation to question caste-based reservation policies and their impact on equality and merit.
- Impact through litigation: Over the years, YFE has filed numerous cases before the Supreme Court and High Courts. Several of these cases have resulted in important legal victories benefiting lakhs of students and job aspirants.
- Continuing constitutional work: Many significant cases initiated by YFE are still being pursued before the Supreme Court and various High Courts.
Legal Battles and Impact
Disposed Cases
| Sr. No | State | Case Details | Impact/Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maharashtra | WP (L) No. 2053 of 2014: In 2014, the State of Maharashtra introduced ordinances granting 16% reservation to the Maratha community and 5% to Muslims. This was in addition to the existing 50% quota for SC, ST, and OBCs, catapulting total reservation to 71%. Youth for Equality (YFE) challenged both ordinances in the Bombay High Court through a Writ Petition (WP (L) No. 2053 of 2014), filed by its representative Sanjeet Shukla. On November 14, 2014, the High Court stayed the ordinances. |
Restored 21% of the jobs and educational seats back to the open competition. (2015) 2 Bom C.R. 267 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | WRIT PETITION NO.3151 OF 2014 In 2015, Maharashtra government again brought the ESBC Act 2014 that provided 16% reservation to the Maratha community over and above the already prevailing 50% reservation. YFE challenged the aforesaid act in the Bombay High Court through WP No. 3151 of 2014. The aforesaid act was stayed by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court vide its order dated 07.04.2015- (2015) SCC Online Bom 5376. | Restored 16% of the jobs and educational seats back to the open competition. |
| 3 | Maharashtra | WP(L) No: 4100 of 2018 and SLP(C) No. 015701/ 2019 In 2018, the State of Maharashtra brought in SEBC Act, 2018 that provided 16% reservation to the Maratha community over and above the already prevailing 50% reservation. YFE challenged it through WP(L) No: 4100 of 2018 in Bombay High Court and later through SLP(C) No. 015701/ 2019. The SEBC act has been has been struck down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 05.05.2021 – (2021) SCC SC Online 362. | Restored 16% of the jobs and educational seats back to the open competition. |
| 4 | Madhya Pradesh | WP NO . 10310 of 2019 and WP No. 25181 of 2019 In 2019, the State of Madhya Pradesh enacted THE MADHYA PRADESH LOK SEVA (ANUSUCHIT JATIYON, ANUSUCHIT JAN JATIYON AUR ANYA PICHHADE VARGON KE LIYE ARAKSHAN) SANSHODHAN ADHINIYAM, 2019 thereby increased the reservation of OBCs from 14% to 27%, thereby increasing the total reservation to 63%. YFE challenged it and also supported provided legal support to another petitioner who was a young job aspirant. On 28.01.2020, the Hon’ble Madhya Pradesh High court stayed the enhanced reservation. | Restored 13% of the jobs and educational seats back to the open competition. |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | WPC No. 3448 of 2019 In 2019, the State of Chhattisgarh enacted an amendment to Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Lok Seva (Anusuchit Jatiyon, Anusuchit 7 Jan Jatiyon Aur Anya Pichhade Vargon Ke Liye Arakshan) Adhiniyam, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act, 1994') thereby increased the reservation of OBCs from 14% to 27%, thereby increasing the total reservation to 71%. YFE provided legal support to the petition filed by young students and job aspirants who challenged the act . On 04.10.2019, the Hon’ble Chhattisgarh High Court stayed the enhanced reservation | Restored 13% of the jobs and educational seats back to the open competition. |
| 6 | Chhattisgarh | WPC/4665/2019 and IA No. 5 of 2020 In 2012, the State of Chhattisgarh by the Chhattisgarh Lok Seva (Anusuchit Jatiyon, Anusuchit Jan Jatiyon Aur Anya Pichere Wargon Ke Liye Aarakshan) Sanshodhan Adhiniyam, 2011 (for short, Amendment Act of 2011), Section 4(2)(i) of the Act of 1994 increased the reservation of Scheduled Tribes (ST) from 20% to 32% and reduced the reservation of SCs from 16% to 12% thereby increasing the overall reservation to 58%. YFE filed Intervention Petition and provided legal support to the petition filed by the young job aspirant who challenged the act. On 19.09.2022, the Hon’ble High Court quashed the enhanced reservation. | Restored 8% of the jobs and educational seats back to the open competition but the State of Chhattisgarh filed SLP in Hon’ble Supreme Court which has stayed the High Court order and allowed enhanced reservation to continue. YFE is providing legal help for the petitioners in Supreme Court. |
| 7 | Bihar | C.W.J.C. No 5542 of 2023 In 2023, State of Bihar decided to conduct a caste census for the state. YFE challenged it on the grounds that State government are not competent to conduct the caste survey. Hon’ble Patna High Court stayed the caste survey through it’s interim order dated 04.05.2023 but in it’s final order dated 01.08.2023 allowed the State Government to go ahead with the Caste Census | |
| 8 | Bihar | C.W.J.C. No 17916 of 2023 In 2023, State of Bihar Reservation (in Enrolment in Educational Institutions) (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Bihar Reservation in Vacancies in Posts and Services (For Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) (Amendment) Bill, 2023 thereby increasing the reservation from 50% to 65% for SC, ST and OBCs. YFE challenged the act in Hon’ble Patna High Court. On 20.06.2024, Hon’ble Patna High Court quashed the enhanced the reservation. | Restored 15% of the jobs and educational seats back to the open competition. |
Pending /Ongoing Cases
| Sr. No | State | Case Details | Impact/Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maharashtra | PIL/39/2024 In 2024, the State of Maharashtra enacted , SEBC act 2024 to provide 10% reservation for Maratha community thereby increasing the overall reservation to SC,ST,OBCs to 60%. YFE has challenged this act in Hon’ble Bombay High Court | Hearing of the case is going on in Hon’ble Bombay High Court. |
| 2 | Maharashtra | PIL No. 19124/2021 In 1994, the State of Maharashtra through the Government Decision No. BCC-1094/Pr.Kr 68/94/16-B dated 8th December, 1994 provided 2% reservation to SBCs over and above the 50% limit. YFE has challenged before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court quashing and striking down this decision | The case is pending before Hon’ble Bombay High Court. |
| 3 | Rajasthan | D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 2852/2020 In State of Rajasthan enacted the RAJASTHAN BACKWARD CLASSES (RESERVATION OF SEATS IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF APPOINTMENTS AND POSTS IN SERVICES UNDER THE STATE), ACT, 2017, ENACTED VIDE NOTIFICATION DATED 17.11.2017 AND ITS AMENDMENT NOTIFICATION DATED 13.02.2019. This provided separate 5% reservation for Gujjar community and increased the overall reservation to 54%. YFE has challenged this act. | The case is pending before Jodhpur bench of Rajasthan High Court. |
| 4 | Bihar | SLP ( C ) No. 016970 / 2023 YFE has challenged before Hon’ble Supreme Court challenging the Hon’ble Patna High Court judgement in C.W.J.C No. 5542 of 2023 allowing the Caste survey | The case is pending before Hon’ble Supreme Court. |
| 5 | Bihar | SLP(C) No. 014094 - / 2024 The State of Bihar has challenged the judgement of Hon’ble Patna High Court quashing 65% reservation in the State of Bihar. But the Hon’ble Supreme Court refused to stay the Hon’ble Patna High Court Order. | The case is pending before Hon’ble Supreme Court. |
| 6 | Madhya Pradesh | T.C.(C) No. 000006 - / 2025 Several petitions have been filed to allow 27% reservation for OBCs in Madhya Pradesh which will increase the total reservation to 63%. | Final Hearing is expected to commence in Hon’ble Supreme Court from 22.09.2025 |
| 7 | Chhattisgarh | SLP No 018816 - 018817 / 2022 and 018949 - 018950 / 2022 The State of Chhattisgarh has filed SLP in Supreme Court challenging the High Court judgement quashing the increase of ST reservation from 20% to 32%. | Final Hearing is expected to commence in Hon’ble Supreme Court from 07.10.2025 |
| 8 | All India | W.P.(C) No. 000078 / 2026: YFE has challenged categorizing all OBCs as politically backward for the purpose of reservation in local bodies. There are many castes within OBCs who are politically very powerful and cannot claim political backwardness. YFE’s petition pray for removal of powerful OBCs from political reservations. | The case is pending before Hon’ble Supreme Court. |
| 9 | All India | I.A. NO.26433 OF 2026: YFE has challenged high creamy layer limit of Rs. 8 lacs per annum as the fixation of INR 8 lakhs as the income/means test obliterates any possibility of targeting the truly “backward classes” and the benefit of reservation are enjoyed by well-off groups under the guise of backward classes. The entire system of reservation/special provisions under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) has been reduced to nothing but an unconstitutional classification based ONLY on caste and/or religion. | The case is pending before Hon’ble Supreme Court. |
| 10 | All India | W.P.(C) No. 000138 / 2026 YFE has challenged the NEET PG cutoff reduction as it is totally against merit and has been brought to benefit private medical colleges with inadequate infrastructure. | The case is pending before Hon’ble Supreme Court. |
| 11 | All India | W.P.(C) No. 000258 / 2026 The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 as it depicts “General Category” as Oppressors and kept out of the equity ambit. The guidelines has several provisions which make the framework one-sided ignores basic safeguards, due process, and balance. YFE has prayed for total roll back of UGC | The case is pending before Hon’ble Supreme Court. |
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