State of Punjab mentions of the Section 4(5) of the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006 provides that fifty per cent of the vacancies of the quota reserved for Scheduled Castes in direct recruitment shall be offered to Balmikis and Mazhbi Sikhs, if available, as a first preference from amongst the Scheduled Castes.

State of Punjab - this reservation was done on a two fold check in balance, 1. was limited to 50% which in the development of law has become the lakshman rekha which were not advised to cross, 2. this was implemented on a preferential basis. This was not an act of exclusion, this was an act of inclusion of those who were the most backward of the backward to bring them if not at power at least up from where they stood.