The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday invalidated a 2020 Haryana government law, which granted 75% reservation in private sector jobs to state residents. Justices G S Sandhawalia and Harpreet Kaur Jeewan announced the verdict, quashing the entire act. Senior advocate Akshay Bhan, representing the petitioners, argued that the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020, violated Constitution Articles 14 and 19. The court accepted multiple petitions against the act, which provided 75% job reservation in the private sector for candidates from the state, covering positions with a maximum gross monthly salary or wages up to Rs 30,000. The bench heard petitions from various industry bodies, including the Gurgaon Industrial Association, in 2021.
The law, named Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020, offered 75% reservation to local youth in private sector jobs with a monthly salary of less than Rs 30,000. It applied to private companies, societies, trusts, and partnership firms and was to remain in effect for 10 years. Industry bodies argued the law was unconstitutional and contradicted the meritocracy principle crucial for businesses. Petitioners claimed it would impact productivity, industrial competitiveness, and post-pandemic recovery.