Reservations are psychological crutches for Scheduled Castes, have only perpetuated caste system instead of destroying it

This article has been written in response to the article of Kailash Jeengar, asst professor of Law, Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, titled The Supreme Court must note that reservation is a fundamental right published in The Wire. Jeengar advocates ‘adequate representation of backward classes at all levels of every public service’. There is no provision in the Indian Constitution stating that caste-based reservation is mandatory. The provisions in Articles 15(4), 16(4), and 16(4A) are only enabling provisions. However, Jeengar seeks to derive the requirement of reservation as an inference from the right to equality in Article 14. But what is the reality? As regards OBC reservation, I have explained in detail in my article OBC reservation is pure fraud published in indicanews.com that OBCs are today not backward (though they were so before Independence in 1947), and therefore reservation for them is wholly unjustified. Coming now to Scheduled Caste reservation, it is true that Scheduled Castes are looked down upon by many upper caste people (and even by many OBCs) and discriminated against, yet I am against any reservations for them for admissions in educational institutions or jobs. However, 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, the child of poor parents may not have the money to buy school textbooks. He should, therefore, be provided with the textbooks free of charge by the state. This, however, is different from providing reservations on caste basis, which I strongly oppose, for the following reasons: (1) Reservations can only benefit less than 1 percent Scheduled Castes while creating an illusion that all are benefited. Scheduled Castes in India are about 22 crores, but reserved jobs for them would be only a few lacs. 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 Scheduled Castes for two reasons: (a) They act as psychological crutches to the Scheduled Castes, thus weakening them. In other words, an impression is created among Scheduled Caste youth that they need not study and work hard because even without doing so they will get admission or a job. Scheduled Castes must throw aside the crutches of reservation and say in a manly way 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 percent in his exams may be denied admission/job, while an SC/OBC who got 40 percent may get it, by virtue of reservation. This naturally creates heart burning 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. Scheduled Castes 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. All these facts have been overlooked by Jeengar, who needs to reconsider his views. I submit that now the time has come when the SCs/OBCs must see through this political fraud and charade, and demand end of all caste-based reservations.