Describe the chain of events leading to issuing of office memorandum dated 8.9.1993 regarding reservation for Other Backward Classes in civil posts and services under the Government of India.

The chain of events was as given below:
(i) 1979: The Government of India appointed the Second Backward Classes Commission or Mandal Commission to determine the criteria to identify the socially and educationally backward classes in India and to make recommendations for their advancement.
(ii) 1980: The Commission gave its report. One major recommendation was that 27 per cent of government jobs be reserved for the socially and economically backward classes. No action was taken.
(iii) 1989: (a) During Lok Sabha elections, Janata Dal promised that if voted to power, it would implement the Report.
(b) Janata Dal formed the government. President of India in his address to the Parliament announced government’s intention to implement the report of Mandal Commission.
(iv) 1990: (a) On 6 August 1990, the Union Cabinet took a formal decision to implement the recommendations.
(b) On 7th August-Prime Minister announced in the Parliament about Cabinet decision.
(c) Decision was conveyed to the Department of Personnel and Training and order was issued on 13 August, 1990.
(v) 1990-92 : Debate for and against the order took place. There were protests and
counter-protests. Cases were filed in the courts.
(vi) 1992: Supreme Court in ‘Indira Sawhney and Others Vs Union of India’ case decided that the order was valid. However’, the court asked the Government to modify its original order to exclude the well to do persons among the backward classes from getting the benefit of reservation Accordingly, the Department of Personnel and Training issued Office Memorandum on September 8, 1993. The dispute thus came to an end and this policy has been followed since then.