How sub-quotas queer affirmative-action pitch
4 months, 1 week ago

How sub-quotas queer affirmative-action pitch

Hindustan Times  

It was autumn 1928. Dr Ambedkar championed a view which sees reservations as a social lever, used to level the playing field after centuries of oppression He spoke eloquently of the need for special assistance for the depressed classes, making for the first time a cohesive case for affirmative action and dismantling a string of objections to special quotas on questions of efficiency and merit. The apex court’s recent decision greenlighting the sub-classification of SC/ST quotas and a secondary call emanating from four judges to enforce creamy layer exclusions hold the potential to upend a settled but imperfect compact on affirmative action in India. The demand for local internal quotas emanates from there, but also creates reciprocal anxieties among larger SC groups that political parties will use quotas to exploit fractures in the Dalit communities for first-past-the-post wins. Think of the pandering by parties to dominant groups demanding quotas — either appeasing influential groups like in Maharashtra or Haryana, or holding back survey data to mollify rivalling but powerful groups as in Karnataka — and it is clear why this is a fraught moment.

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History of this topic

Karnataka government mulls 4% Muslim quota in government tenders, BJP slams move: Report
Trending News
1 month, 1 week ago

Karnataka government mulls 4% Muslim quota in government tenders, BJP slams move: Report

Hindustan Times  

The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is considering a proposal to introduce 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts for civil works valued up to ₹1 crore, Deccan Herald reported. According to the report, Karnataka currently provides a reservation of 43 per cent in government contracts: 24 per cent for SC/ST contractors, 4 per cent for …

Karnataka’s proposed 4% Muslim quota sparks debate; BJP asks: ‘Whose share will be cut — SC, ST or OBCs?’
Trending News
1 month, 1 week ago

Karnataka’s proposed 4% Muslim quota sparks debate; BJP asks: ‘Whose share will be cut — SC, ST or OBCs?’

Live Mint  

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka is reviewing a proposal to introduce a reservation for Muslims in public contracts for construction works valued up to ₹1 crore, according to media reports. Karnataka's Existing Reservation Framework At present, Karnataka reserves 43 per cent of civil work contracts: 24 per cent for SC/STs, 4 per cent for OBC contractors under Category-1, and …

Haryana's SC Sub-Quota: A Polarizing Divide Within the Dalit Community
2 months ago

Haryana's SC Sub-Quota: A Polarizing Divide Within the Dalit Community

Hindustan Times  

Haryana's decision to implement Scheduled Caste (SC) sub-quotas marks an important turn for Indian politics. The sub-quotas will address inequalities within the broader SC group, with each segment getting half of the 20% quota. This is significant as it is the first state to implement sub-quotas within the SC umbrella since the Supreme Court allowed it. The decision is also …

Can creamy layer in the Dalit quota be justified?
3 months ago

Can creamy layer in the Dalit quota be justified?

Hindustan Times  

The Supreme Court last month upheld sub-classification in the quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. However, some judges further recommended adding creamy layer exclusions, restricting reservations to only one generation or once, making it time-bound, and adding economic criteria. A study by ActionAid in 2000 on social and economic discrimination in 11 states and another 2013 study of government …

What Next? Quotas in Cricket Team?
3 months, 3 weeks ago

What Next? Quotas in Cricket Team?

News 18  

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has become obsessed with caste, so much so that he seems to be outdoing the Mandal-Lohia brand of leaders whose casteist approach in politics has done immense harm to the country. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju rightly slammed the Leader of the Opposition for refusing to “see first tribal President, OBC PM, record numbers of SC/ST Cabinet …

Quotas in quota | Panacea or pandora's box?
4 months ago

Quotas in quota | Panacea or pandora's box?

India Today  

On August 1, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment redefining the framework of affirmative action. Chandrachud allowed states to create subclassifications within the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The aim is to ensure a more equitable distribution of reservation benefits among the most backward communities within these categories. It has in effect now allowed states to further demarcate reservations …

In Tamil Nadu, data on quota is a Pandora’s Box
4 months, 1 week ago

In Tamil Nadu, data on quota is a Pandora’s Box

The Hindu  

Politics over reservation in education and public employment is nothing new to Tamil Nadu. The question over the data has been addressed partially through the publication of the State Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department’s reply to a query under the RTI on the representation of Vanniyars and the rest within the exclusive 20% quota for MBC-DNCs …

Reservation redistribution
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Reservation redistribution

Hindustan Times  

The gains of reservation — despite its goal of driving equity — have flowed unequally. Relative social privilege and political clout have led to a few groups enjoying almost all the benefits of reservations while others languish in backwardness that is largely unchanged since Independence. To illustrate, the Jatavs in Uttar Pradesh and the Mahars in Maharashtra have long been …

Why has Supreme Court re-examined subclassification in SC-ST quotas? Explained
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Why has Supreme Court re-examined subclassification in SC-ST quotas? Explained

India TV News  

With a decisive majority of 6:1, the seven-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Thursday ruled in favour of sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The latest decision overruled the 2004 judgment in the EV Chinnaiah vs State of Andhra Pradesh case, which held that there can be no sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled …

SC/ST Reservation: Supreme Court Rules Separate Quotas Permissible for More Backward Castes
4 months, 3 weeks ago

SC/ST Reservation: Supreme Court Rules Separate Quotas Permissible for More Backward Castes

ABP News  

On Thursday, August 1, the Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling concerning Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Chandrachud, decided by a 6:1 majority that separate quotas within the SC/ST categories can be allocated to more backward sub-groups. The Court's ruling emphasizes that certain castes within SC/ST categories are significantly more backward and require targeted empowerment. The Court's judgment highlighted the …

SC allows states to sub-classify SCs, STs for quotas within reserved categories
4 months, 3 weeks ago

SC allows states to sub-classify SCs, STs for quotas within reserved categories

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: In a majority verdict on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that states have the authority to sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to allocate quotas within the reserved category, aiming to uplift more underprivileged groups. A seven-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud held a 6:1 majority that the further sub-classification of SCs and STs by …

DC Edit | Thorny quota for Marathas
10 months ago

DC Edit | Thorny quota for Marathas

Deccan Chronicle  

Any extension of quotas, besides being subject to legal scrutiny, is bound to be contentious and basically unfair to other groups that may be similarly placed as the Marathas in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra government, under Eknath Shinde, was pressured by the clamour for this 10 per cent quota for Marathas, more so with the agitation of the prominent campaigner Manoj …

Bihar assembly passes bill to hike quotas for SCs, STs & backward classes to 65 per cent, surpasses SC's 50 per cent cap
1 year, 1 month ago

Bihar assembly passes bill to hike quotas for SCs, STs & backward classes to 65 per cent, surpasses SC's 50 per cent cap

Firstpost  

The Caste Survey report revealed that OBCs and the extremely backward classes sub-group account for a whopping 63 per cent of the state’s total of 13.07 crore, while SCs and STs together were slightly over 21 per cent. The Bihar Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a bill to raise the quota for SCs, STs, Other Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes …

Existing OBCs strongly oppose OBC status to Marathas
1 year, 3 months ago

Existing OBCs strongly oppose OBC status to Marathas

Hindustan Times  

MUMBAI: Faced with the fresh, aggressive agitation by Marathas across the state, the Maharashtra government finds itself between a rock and a hard place. “The district machinery will verify the claims of the castes by checking family trees and records in educational institutions.” Virendra Pawar, coordinator of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, the umbrella organisation of Maratha outfits, said that the …

These Seats Are Reserved: Putting the quota debate in context
1 year, 7 months ago

These Seats Are Reserved: Putting the quota debate in context

India Today  

These Seats are Reserved: Caste, Quotas and the Constitution of India by Abhinav Chandrachud, a lawyer practising at the Bombay High Court, explains the history of the affirmative action provisions in the Indian Constitution and demystifies the complex set of rules and procedures through which these clauses are put into operation. The first half traces the history of constitutionalising reservation …

Quick edit: Manipur message
1 year, 7 months ago

Quick edit: Manipur message

Live Mint  

The violence in Manipur over a proposed change in reservation eligibility reveals not just job scarcity, an all-India problem, but the need for a conversation on affirmative action that rises above group interests. A proposal to extend a tribal quota to Meiteis, who make up the state’s majority, is being resisted by Kukis and Nagas, who are currently eligible for …

Towards a new affirmative pact
1 year, 8 months ago

Towards a new affirmative pact

Hindustan Times  

In his last speech before the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, BR Ambedkar warned the incoming lawmakers of a still infant Republic. He reminded them that the topsoil of democracy in India rested on a bed of deep inequity and, therefore, political democracy would never be enough in the absence of social democracy — where people of various backgrounds, …

Congress seeks quota overhaul in EWS, party
1 year, 9 months ago

Congress seeks quota overhaul in EWS, party

Hindustan Times  

The Congress party will push for inclusion of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities in the economically weaker sections quota launched by the Narendra Modi government in 2019 through a Constitutional amendment. The party will also roll out 50% reservation for SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, women and those under 50 years of age across its organisation, party …

Odisha Cabinet Approves Decision to Add 22 New Castes to State OBC List
1 year, 11 months ago

Odisha Cabinet Approves Decision to Add 22 New Castes to State OBC List

The Quint  

How much reservation do OBCs get in Odisha? However, whenever the government has tried to raise the quota, it has been struck down by the courts for crossing the 50% ceiling of total reservation set by the Supreme Court in the 1993 Indra Sawhney judgment. For example, Orissa High Court had struck down the Odisha Reservation of Posts and Services …

SC agrees to hear appeal on January 4 challenging direction to hold U.P. municipal polls without reservation for OBC
1 year, 11 months ago

SC agrees to hear appeal on January 4 challenging direction to hold U.P. municipal polls without reservation for OBC

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on January 2 agreed to list on January 4 an appeal filed by the Uttar Pradesh government challenging an Allahabad High Court direction to hold local body elections in the State without reservation for Other Backward Classes. The case raises the fundamental question whether quota for political representation in urban self-government bodies can be equated with reservation …

'EWS Quota Is Reservation For Upper Castes With A Creamy Layer Exclusion': All India Backward Classes Federation Seeks Review Of Supreme Court Judgment
2 years ago

'EWS Quota Is Reservation For Upper Castes With A Creamy Layer Exclusion': All India Backward Classes Federation Seeks Review Of Supreme Court Judgment

Live Law  

A review petition has been filed by All India Backward Classes Federation against the majority judgement of the Constitution Bench judgment upholding the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment which introduced provisions for reservation to Economically Weaker Sections. The judgement dated 07.11.2022, by a 3:2 majority, had upheld the validity f the 103rd Constitutional Amendment which introduced 10% reservation for …

OBCs demand reservations proportionate to their population
2 years, 2 months ago

OBCs demand reservations proportionate to their population

Deccan Chronicle  

Vijayawada: A high-level meeting of OBC employees from all over India in Chennai demanded that the centre provide reservations in promotions to backward class communities, remove creamy layer, conduct caste census and increase reservations for BCs as per the size of their population. Addressing the employees, National BC Welfare Association president and MP R. Krishnaiah called upon employees to be …

Will EWS quota cut share of pie of those competing on merit, asks CJI
2 years, 3 months ago

Will EWS quota cut share of pie of those competing on merit, asks CJI

The Hindu  

Has the government ended up "diminishing" the opportunities of candidates who compete for jobs and seats in government institutions purely on merit by carving out a 10% quota for 'economically weaker sections' from the general category, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court asked the Centre on Wednesday. Lalit pointed out that 50% academic seats and jobs in the general …

10% EWS quota is affirmative action: Centre
2 years, 3 months ago

10% EWS quota is affirmative action: Centre

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: The Central government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections amongst general category of population was an “affirmative action” and distinct from the 50 per cent reservations provided for the SC, ST and OBC community, and does not impinge on it. Addressing the argument of the petitioners opposing the …

EWS Quota: We fought apartheid in South Africa, but not in India, petitioners in SC
2 years, 3 months ago

EWS Quota: We fought apartheid in South Africa, but not in India, petitioners in SC

India Today  

A constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday continued to hear the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 103rd Amendment Act, which provides for a 10 per cent quota for Economically Weaker Sections. A five-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India UU Lalit heard the submissions made by Senior Advocates Ravi Verma Kumar, Salman Khurshid and …

OBC reservation in India: History, state-wise quota, legal challenges, tussle for local body polls
2 years, 7 months ago

OBC reservation in India: History, state-wise quota, legal challenges, tussle for local body polls

The Hindu  

The story so far: Last week, the Maharashtra government had a setback when the Supreme Court directed the State to release the schedule for local civic polls across the state within two weeks, upholding its stay on reservations for Other Backward Classes. Local body elections in Maharashtra have been on hold since the apex Court stayed the 27 per cent …

Go beyond the quota rhetoric
2 years, 9 months ago

Go beyond the quota rhetoric

Hindustan Times  

The Supreme Court, for the third time, rejected Maharashtra’s plea to allow reservations for Other Backward Classes in local body polls — after scrapping the provision last year, and then refusing to review its verdict on the issue. The answer lies in the predictable, if somewhat unfortunate, proclivity of political parties to use affirmative action to paper over cleavages emerging …

Caste and EWS quota: The political calm, the legal storm and what we don’t know
3 years, 2 months ago

Caste and EWS quota: The political calm, the legal storm and what we don’t know

Hindustan Times  

In January 2019, with months to go for the general elections, the National Democratic Alliance government announced a major move. But two years on, a series of legal moves have led to renewed churn about EWS quotas – their utility and rationale. EWS quota was the government’s weapon to blunt upper-caste anger against growing Dalit assertion, especially after spontaneous nationwide …

The Current Reservation System Will Benefit the Political Class, Not Downtrodden
3 years, 4 months ago

The Current Reservation System Will Benefit the Political Class, Not Downtrodden

News 18  

Ambedkar would have nodded his head in disbelief had he been present in 21st century India. It’s a mockery of the current reservation policy where a large chunk of subcategories within the socially and educationally backward castes is left out and pushed to the fringe by the dominant 10 castes of a total of 2,633 sub-castes within the larger OBC …

How Can Sub-categorisation of OBCs Work? Make Quotas Proportional to Their Population
3 years, 10 months ago

How Can Sub-categorisation of OBCs Work? Make Quotas Proportional to Their Population

News 18  

The Justice Rohini Commission, which recently got its 10th extension, seems to be finally wrapping up its work. According to a news report, the commission is going to propose division of the Other Backward Classes in four subcategories, with the first category getting 2 per cent, second 6 per cent, third 9 per cent and the fourth 10 per cent …

Rohini Commission for OBC Sub-categorisation Proposes Division of 27% Quota Into 2, 6, 9 & 10%
3 years, 10 months ago

Rohini Commission for OBC Sub-categorisation Proposes Division of 27% Quota Into 2, 6, 9 & 10%

News 18  

In 2017, the Narendra Modi government constituted the Justice Rohini Commission to examine the sub-categorisation of the Other Backward Classes to examine the equitable redistribution of the 27% quota for the Other Backward Castes, which will now reportedly begin consultations with the states on a four-category formula. According to the reply in Lok Sabha, the Commission was set up in …

Reservations Have Acted As a Form of Social Engineering to Address Centuries of Oppression and Discrimination: Justice Ravindra Bhat
4 years ago

Reservations Have Acted As a Form of Social Engineering to Address Centuries of Oppression and Discrimination: Justice Ravindra Bhat

Live Law  

"Affirmative action is not an exception to equality of treatment, but a method of ensuring equality, by enabling all individuals to perform according to their potentials," said Justice s. Ravindra Bhat while delivering the Annual Havanur Endowment Memorial Lecture, orgainzed by the Karnataka State Law University on Monday. " Affirmative action in India, due to the specific forms it takes, …

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