His tenure was highly significant as he was the first chairperson appointed to head the NCBC after it was officially granted constitutional status by the Parliament of India via the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act.
Political History & Career
Early Background: Hailing from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Sahni emerged as a prominent voice for the socially and educationally backward classes, particularly the Nishad community.
2004 Lok Sabha Elections: He contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from the Muzaffarpur constituency on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket, running against the veteran leader and former Defence Minister George Fernandes.
Hindustan Times
2009 Lok Sabha Elections: He later contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from the same Muzaffarpur constituency representing the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP).
Ideological Shift: Over his career, he developed close ideological ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Tenure as NCBC Chairman (2019–2022)
Dr. Sahni took charge of the newly reconstituted NCBC on February 28, 2019, working alongside vice-chairman Dr. Lokesh Kumar Prajapati. His major contributions and focus areas during his three-year tenure included:
Expanding OBC Reservations: He actively pushed for the implementation of the 27% OBC quota in states that had lagged behind, openly criticizing the Odisha government at the time for failing to implement the reservation.
Educational Reforms: Under his leadership, the commission pushed for and successfully implemented OBC reservations in premier educational networks like the Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas.
Stance on Caste Census: Sahni publicly supported the demand for a comprehensive caste-based census, calling it a "legitimate demand of all OBCs" across India to ensure equitable development.
Forward PressInstitutional Development: As the head of a newly constitutionalized civil body, he spearheaded demands for an increased budget, better office infrastructure, and expanded manpower to protect the interests of the backward classes.
Dr. Sahni officially concluded his three-year term on February 24, 2022, submitting his final tenure report to the President of India. He was later succeeded by Hansraj Gangaram Ahir as the chairperson of the commission.