Appeal to dalits and OBCs to demand end of caste reservations
By Justice Katju
I have begun a series of articles for publication called ‘The controversial Judge’. The first in the series, which is introductory, is given below :
https://justicekatju.com/the-controversial-judge-2e4066a69b93
Now this is chapter 1 in the series, and its title is given above.
At first glance it may sound strange that I am demanding an end to something which has benefited dalits ( SCs ) and OBCs, and that too by asking these categories themselves to demand its end.
However, on a deeper analysis, which I am presenting here, it will become obvious that far from benefiting SCs and OBCs, caste reservations have done them enormous damage.
1. Reservations can only benefit less than 1 per cent SCs or OBCs, while creating an illusion that all are benefited. SCs in India are about 25 crores, but reserved jobs for them would be only a few lakhs. So very few will get the benefit of reservations, and even these will be mostly from the ‘creamy layer’.
2. Reservations are doing great harm to the SCs/OBCs for two reasons:
(a) They act as psychological crutches to them, thus, weakening them. In other words, an impression is created among SC/OBC youth that they need not study and work hard because even without doing so they will get admission or a job.
SCs and OBCs must throw aside the crutches of reservation and say that they will work hard and show by competing with upper castes on merits that they are not intellectually inferior to upper castes.
(b) Reservations are serving the policy of divide and rule of the political rulers, as they create animosity between SCs/OBCs and upper castes. An upper caste youth who got 90 per cent in his exams may be denied admission/job, while an SC/OBC who got 40 per cent may get it, by virtue of reservation. This naturally causes anguish in the former. India’s massive problems can only be overcome by a mighty united people’s struggle which will totally transform the country and bring it into the ranks of the developed countries, but for that unity among the people is absolutely necessary, but reservations divide us.
SCs must realise that they cannot succeed in their struggle for social amelioration if they are isolated. They must join hands with the enlightened section of the upper castes, and fight along with them. But this will be difficult as long as reservations continue.
3. Our politicians use reservations for their vote bank politics. So the real purpose of reservations is not to benefit the SCs/OBCs but to benefit the politicians.
4. Caste reservations have further perpetuated the caste system, instead of helping in destroying it. Caste is a feudal institution, which has to be destroyed if India is to progress, but reservations further entrench it.
I am against any caste-based reservations for admissions in educational institutions or jobs. Instead, special facilities and help should be given to poor children of all castes (even upper castes) or religions, to ensure them a level playing field.
For instance, a child of poor parents may not have the money to buy school textbooks ( whereas a child of rich parents suffers from no such disability ). The former should, therefore, be provided the text books free of charge by the state. This, however, is different from providing reservations on caste basis, which I strongly oppose, for the reasons given above.
There is no provision in the Indian Constitution which says that caste reservation is mandatory
The truth is that caste reservations are only a device used by all political parties to get votes
The time has now come when all Indians, including SCs/OBC, see through this political fraud and charade, and demand the end of all caste-based reservations.
http://justicekatju.blogspot.com/2015/04/reservations-india-reservations-for.html
https://indicanews.com/caste-reservations-in-india/
https://www.firstpost.com/author/markandeykatju/
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