Ggm industries say HC order welcome, needed

Hours after the Punjab & Haryana high court quashed a Haryana government law providing reservation to locals for private sector jobs, industry owners and associations across the state on Friday welcomed the verdict, calling the law an anti-business move that militated against the spirit of entrepreneurship.

- Abhishek Behl

The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020, passed by state assembly on March 2, 2021, provided 75% reservation to candidates from the state in private sector jobs with a monthly salary of up to ₹30,000. The law was to remain in force for 10 years.

This was challenged in the high court by the Gurgaon Industrial Association (GIA) through a petition on December 16, 2021. This petition was later joined by associations from Faridabad, Rewari and other towns in the state.

JN Mangla, former GIA president, said the court has upheld the fundamental rights of workers and industry owners. "As a private entrepreneur, one should be free to hire a worker, and We had approached the high court as this law infringed on our rights. The court has validated our submission that every person from across the country has the right to work in Haryana. There can be no discrimination," he said.