Reservation And Idea Of Equality: Time For Constitutional Reevaluation
- IJLLR Journal
- 18 hours ago
- 1 min read
Saksham Goyal, University School of Law and Legal Studies (USLLS), New Delhi
ABSTRACT
This essay re-evaluates India's long-standing Reservation policy, arguing that the time has come for a constitutional re-evaluation to balance the original mandate of substantive equality with contemporary challenges. This essay reevaluates by highlighting the shift in modern challenges, including economic disparities that are beyond caste, and increased demands from non- reserved communities. Ultimately, this paper proposes a multi-dimensional approach to refining the policy. This approach expands the criteria for affirmative action beyond caste to include factors such as economic condition, educational backwardness, and regional backwardness. By upholding constitutional values and balancing meritocracy, social needs, and evolving needs.
1. INTRODUCTION
“Reservations should be confined to a minority of seats; otherwise, they will be harmful to the interests of the country.”
— Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Constituent Assembly Debates, 1948
In these Prophetic words, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar previously envisaged the problem that India would face if there wasn’t a timely revisiting of the reservation policy that was implemented in the circumstances of India in its early stages of post-Independence, Dr, B.R. Ambedkar wisely argued that the scope or target group of the reservation should not be broader rather there should be more specific target groups. He firmly believed that reservations are necessary to rectify historical injustices, but they should not dominate society or create a new form of inequality.
