Punjab and Haryana High Court strikes down Haryana's 75% private job reservation

(Report by Preet Mehta): In a significant setback for the Haryana Government, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has nullified the state's legislation that mandated a 75 per cent reservation for local residents in private sector employment.

The enactment of the State Employment of Local Candidates Act 2020 faced multiple legal challenges alleging that  a 75 per cent reservation for local residents in private sector employment. would favour residency over merit in private job placements. Critics argued that such a policy could potentially disrupt the merit-based selection process in the private sector.

On Friday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld these challenges, deeming them valid and subsequently revoked the Haryana government's law. The court had previously issued a stay on this legislation.

This decision underscores a critical juncture in the ongoing discourse surrounding reservation policies in private employment, prioritising meritocracy as opposed to domicile-based preferences in hiring practices.