Education

The Uneducated Supreme

“Reservation is one of the many tools used to preserve essence of equality so that disadvantaged groups can be brought to the forefront of civil life” Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan

1.    Why don’t you use the exact words and say: “Caste-based reservation is one of the many tools used to preserve essence of equality..” Can you justify how this system, which divides and discriminates people based on their birth caste, preserves equality?

2.    What are others of the ‘many tools’?

3.    Do you think caste-based reservations are the best tool? Why not ask the government to find out the ‘best tool’ among the many tools to preserve…?

4.    Do you think a college degree is all it takes to come ‘to the forefront of civil life’? Laughable. There are caste-based discriminations even against those who are rich and powerful. ‘Reverse-discrimination’ is not the medicine for ‘discrimination’; more hatred is not an answer to hatred.

Your Verdict: Creamy layer won’t get benefit.

1.    You say ‘backward status vanishes when somebody becomes part of the creamy layer’. Then what makes you say that “Creamy layer concept was not applicable to SCs and STs”? Any answers from the real creamy layers of our judiciary?

2.    Definition of creamy layer is those who earn over Rs 2.5 lakh annually. So in principle, you say that those Indians who earn more than Rs 2.5 lakh annually don’t deserve reservations. Then what about those among the General Category who earn less than this figure?

Your Verdict: Review of OBC quota every 5 years.

1.    Why not ask for review of all other caste-based quota (for SC/STs) every 5 years?

2.    You don’t prescribe any end date for such quotas; so this will run till eternity.

Your Verdict: Quota law won’t cover minority institutions.

1.    You say minority institutions are a ‘Separate Class’. How many ‘Classes’ have you created in my one India? Why don’t you sue the government for creating ‘Classes’ of special rights in a democratic country?

2.    Can you explain why government of a secular country which funds ‘minority’ institutions, should have no say in the way they run?

My verdict on ‘your’ system:

Your caste based reservation system:

1.    Defines, validates, and authorises the ‘Caste System’ in India, which is a social malaise…

2.    Doesn’t protect the poorest from the general category, just because they are born in a family that was ‘historically’ advantaged.

3.    Doesn’t do anything to eradicate the caste-based discriminations in society.

4.    Gives disincentive to a system based on performance and merit.

5.    Is based on the unjustifiable system of ‘reverse discrimination’ and results in divide, hatred, and discomfort in the society.

6.    Helps generate and nurture ‘vote bank politics’.

Ref: All quotes and news taken from HT, Mumbai, April 11, 2008