Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Commendable

The Supreme Court's refusal to vacate the stay on 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in elite educational institutions reiterates the fact that the whole issue is political in nature. The UPA Government will find it difficult to justify its proposal to expand the ambit of reservation in the court, which has once again exercised the powers vested with it to reassure the people that no baseless law will come into effect. Congratulations to those who worked to stop the government from going ahead with one more of its policies that was merely an attempt to get votes.

Aneesh Bhandari,
Jaipur

The court has reiterated that it is not in favour of continuing reservation for the creamy layer among the OBCs. It has also termed misconceived the government argument that an increase in the number of seats will protect the share of the general category. In view of this, the Government and all political parties should give up their adamant stand and wait for the final verdict.

K.N. Ramani,
Coimbatore

The decision is proof of the existence of an active judiciary. The Government should approach the issue constitutionally, rather than emotionally. The decision provides great relief to those seeking admission to premier institutions.

K. Surya Narayana Rao,
Rajahmundry

The Bench's directive to the Centre to "frame the rules and play the game" is welcome. It is a boon to students who are waiting for admission to IIMs. Political wisdom lies in evolving methods to remove the flaws and overcome the legal hurdles.

K.S. Thampi,
Chennai

Our politicians just do not seem interested in correcting themselves. They insist that they are superior to the law of the land. They say that since they represent the people, they know their aspirations better. But we have among us MPs and MLAs who are involved in serious scams. Can we trust them to have concern for and interest in the development of our country?

Radhakrishna Thommandra,
Hyderabad

Political chauvinism has once again failed. All right-thinking persons should be proud of the fact that they still have an independent judiciary. If the Government really wants to uplift the poor OBCs, it should exclude the creamy layer first.

K.P. Ashok Kumar,
Thiruvananthapuram

The court's rejection of the Centre's plea is another setback to the UPA Government. The erudite judges have rightly questioned the hurry with which it is pursuing the case.

H.P. Murali,
Bangalore

The court's poser why the Government cannot wait for another six months is very relevant. If the quota is allowed to be implemented in haste and the move is challenged, it will be rendered futile. Reservation is a long-term measure that will affect generations to come. Is it proper to act in a hurry on it, that too without adequate preparation? The Government should address all questions patiently instead of pushing the court to deliver orders on emotional grounds without facts and figures.

S. Rajkumar,
Chennai

If the plight of the large segment of India's population has to be improved, reservation in education and employment, if any, should be on the basis of income. Caste is irrelevant. More illogical is the Government's intention to extend the benefits to the creamy layer among the OBCs. The only hope is the judiciary, which has been trying in vain to prevent politicians from running riot with their vote-bank policies.

D. Ravindra,
Hyderabad

I am unable to understand why the Government is keen on including the creamy layer. Is it not interested in the uplift of the backward among the OBCs?

G.N. Kannan,
Coimbatore

It is unfortunate that even highly qualified persons at the helm of affairs have shrunk their stature to fit the cloth and follow the piper to doom the country. Thankfully, where politicians have abdicated their responsibility, the judiciary has stepped in to correct the aberration.

Palanki Balakrishna,
Hyderabad

The court ruling should bring the curtains down on the ongoing controversy and open the door for admissions without further delay in the larger interest of students. Equality and justice do not mean suppression of one section and pampering another.

K.V. Seetharamaiah,
Hassan

HRD Minister Arjun Singh promoted the idea of OBC quota for political gains and ended up dividing students. He has discredited merit and excellence in academics, besides distorting the meaning of autonomous institutions of higher education by forcing them to fall in line.

M.K.D. Prasada Rao,
Ghaziabad

The court has explicitly conveyed to politicians that they cannot politicise everything at the expense of the people.

Ramesh S. Patel,
Chennai

The Centre was at fault in presenting the case without excluding the creamy layer, rightly found non-acceptable to the Bench, which held that its plea amounted to partial implementation of the Mandal judgment.

R.M. Manoharan,
Chennai

The judiciary has not ruled against reservation; it has merely asked for information to rationalise it. Political parties must not blow up the issue into a judiciary vs. executive conflict. The Government should take the order seriously, rather than trying to circumvent it.

K. Gitanjali,
Hyderabad

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