In January 2019, the central government made a provision to give 10 percent reservation to the economically weaker people of the general category. More than 40 petitions were filed in the Supreme Court against this decision of the central government and after continuous hearings the Supreme Court on September 27, 2022 reserved its decision on the matter.In January 2019, the central government made a provision to give 10 percent reservation to the economically weaker people of the general category. More than 40 petitions were filed in the Supreme Court against this decision of the central government and after continuous hearings the Supreme Court on September 27, 2022 reserved its decision on the matter. Yesterday’s decision by SC was given by a bench of 5 judges in which 3 judges expressed their opinion in favour of the reservation while 2 voted against the 10% EWS reservation quota.The basic purpose of reservation is to reduce inequality and help out disadvantaged groups. The EWS quota also has a key role to play in pulling people out of poverty, even as there will undoubtedly be fewer opportunities now for general-category candidates who don’t belong to EWS.
The onus is on the lawmakers to extend the economic criterion to reservation in SC/ST/OBC categories. It’s lamentable that families which are no longer economically backward continue to enjoy the fruits of reservation, generation after generation. It is imperative to review quotas from time to time to assess whether they are actually benefiting the needy or not. Uplifting the underprivileged calls for a multi-pronged strategy: the importance of short-term and long-term welfare schemes cannot be overestimated. Putting all the eggs in the reservation basket should not be the way forward.