Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Creamy layer

The verdict is a progressive step towards ensuring equality and inclusiveness.

However, the exclusion of the creamy layer will prevent candidates from the communities which are socially and educationally backward but economically moderate from getting the benefit of reservation.

Tarun Kumar Pithode,

New Delhi

For centuries the ‘upper’ castes have enjoyed the fruits of education. And today, for determining backwardness graduation has been made the standard yardstick. That is, if just one generation graduates from a university it will become educationally forward.

Added to this is the stipulation that if seats remain vacant under the 27 per cent quota, they can be made available to the general category. A section of society will remain perpetually backward.

R. Sundara Vadivel,

New Delhi

I suggest that our readers read the paper, “Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development,” presented by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at an anthropology seminar in Columbia University on May 9, 1916. It has taken more than 60 years for us to provide reservation for the OBCs in higher education, that too with a condition. It would be difficult to define the creamy layer among the OBCs. Only the salaried class will be at a disadvantage.

The seats earmarked for the OBCs should be filled only by OBC candidates, with first preference for candidates belonging to the non-creamy layer.

J. Kripasagar,

Chennai

The Supreme Court should be commended for excluding the creamy layer from the purview of reservation. Unlike the SCs and the STs, the population of the OBCs is very high. The number that qualifies for reservation, too, is much more than the available quota.

If the creamy layer is included, the quota will be rendered meaningless. There is also the danger of the creamy layer enjoying the entire 27 per cent quota. If the historic judgment is to achieve the intended objective, the creamy layer should be excluded.

R. Monikumar,

Chennai

The court’s direction on the creamy layer should be followed strictly. With the RTI in force, the details of applicants’ status can be verified anytime. The other aspect of the judgment that merits praise is the direction that the list of backward classes be reviewed after five years.

B.N. Gangadhar,

Bangalore

The intent of caste-based reservation was to undo caste-related historic disadvantages. The objective has succeeded as far as the creamy layers among the OBCs are concerned. Continuing to give them preferential treatment would run against the constitutional intent. It will deny their genuinely backward brethren access to the ladder of progress.

Thiruvengadam Ramakrishnan,

Richmond, Texas

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