The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : On reservation

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Thursday, Apr 17, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

On reservation

This refers to the Supreme Court’s judgment upholding the law granting 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs in higher education. Our Constitution framers would have never thought of making reservation permanent. They did not envisage reservation for the OBCs because they did not suffer any social disadvantage. Today, almost 50 per cent of the seats in educational institutions is reserved. The reservation policy as it exists today will surely create two classes of students — bright students of the so-called forward communities who fail to get admission in educational institutions and the less meritorious students who get admission easily.

Raghunatha Prabhu,

Alappuzha

* * *

Those arguing for inclusion of the creamy layer in the purview of reservation contend that its exclusion will defeat the purpose of reservation as only the poorest, who cannot afford higher education, among the OBCs will be eligible. But isn’t reservation for the weakest sections the intended objective? Will not the purpose of reservation be defeated if only the affluent among the OBCs benefit from it? Do not the rich and the poor among the general category work hard to compete in entrance examinations? Why can’t the rich and privileged among the OBCs do the same? The government can take care of the poor OBCs by granting scholarships and loans at cheaper rates of interest.

P.G. Neelakandan,

New Delhi

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