Caste card-Frontline.doc

8/9/2019 Caste card-Frontline.doc

1/10

Vol:25 Iss:16 URL:http://www.flonnet.com/fl2516/stories/20080815251604400.htm

REERV!"I#$

%&ste c&r'

JAGDEEP S. CHHOKAR

%&ste()&se' reser*&tion is here to st&+ th&n,s to opport-nistic politics.V. SUDERSHAN

!n !ll In'i& -&r Vi,&s &nsth&n 'emonstr&tion in $ew elhi in &+

protestin &&inst the ,illin of -&rs in police firin in R&&sth&n when the+

were &it&tin for reser*&tion for the comm-nit+.

THE reservation issue is in the news fro tie to tie! when events of ore "o#iti$a#an% &enera# i"ort a##ow s"a$e for it. Resi%ent %o$tors at the A## 'n%ia 'nstitute of

(e%i$a# S$ien$es! stu%ents at the 'n%ian 'nstitutes of Te$hno#o&) *''Ts+ an% Gu,,ars

in Ra,asthan are soe "#a)ers who o$$asiona##) -rin& the issue to the front "a&es ofnews"a"ers. Po#iti$ians soeties want to wish it awa)! soeties $ourt it with

&usto. There see to -e $#ear %ivisions on this. hi#e soe veheent#) an% $#ear#)o""ose it! &oin& to the e/tent of fi#in& $ourt $ases an% or&anisin& "u-#i$

%eonstrations an% bandhs! even #osin& their own #ives! soe others e0ua##)staun$h#) su""ort it. (ore #ives have -een #ost in su""ort of reservation than a&ainst

it. 1ut the issue reains with us! as a$tive an% ore vo#ati#e now than it was a#ost

23 )ears a&o when it was written into the Constitution.

Over the )ears! ost of what the Constitution "rovi%e% for has -een a#ost #ost si&ht


2/10

of. Parti$i"ants fro neither si%e ta4e the trou-#e of &oin& -a$4 to the -asi$s or

rea%in& the fine "rint of innuera-#e Su"ree Court an% Hi&h Court ,u%&ents that

%is$uss the va#i%it) of the $onstitutiona# "rovisions threa%-are! a#-eit fro a "ure#)#e&a# "ers"e$tive. 't therefore sees worthwhi#e to revisit the ori&ina# $onstitutiona#

"rovisions.

Constitutiona# Provisions

The first ention of the issue is un%er the Ri&ht to E0ua#it). The ori&ina#Constitution $har&e% 5The State6 that it 5sha## not %is$riinate a&ainst an) $iti7en on

&roun%s on#) of re#i&ion! ra$e! $aste! se/! "#a$e of -irth6. The 8irst Aen%ent! in

9:;9! a%%e% Arti$#e 9;*


3/10

States res"e$tive#). Si&nifi$ant#)! Arti$#e < a%e a s"e$ifi$ "rovision for a-o#ition

of this reservation 5on the e/"iration of a "erio% of ten )ears fro the

$oen$eent of this Constitution6. This "erio% was first e/ten%e% to =3 )earsun%er the Ei&hth Aen%ent to the Constitution in 9:23! an% has sin$e -een

e/ten%e% "erio%i$a##)! the #ast e/tension -ein& to 5si/t) )ears6 -) the @:thAen%ent in =333.

Then there is Arti$#e ;! whi$h "rovi%es that 5the $#ais of the e-ers of theS$he%u#e% Castes an% the S$he%u#e% Tri-es sha## -e ta4en into $onsi%eration!

$onsistent#) with the aintenan$e of effi$ien$) of a%inistration! in the a4in& of

a""ointents to servi$es an% "osts in $onne$tion with the affairs of the Union or of aState6 an% a%%s that 5nothin& in this arti$#e sha## "revent in a4in& of an) "rovision

in favour of the e-ers of the S$he%u#e% Castes an% the S$he%u#e% Tri-es for

re#a/ation in 0ua#if)in& ar4s in an) e/aination or #owerin& the stan%ar%s ofeva#uation! for reservation in atters or "rootion to an) $#ass or $#asses of servi$es

or "osts in $onne$tion with the affairs of the Union or of a State.6

The "rovision for reservation for the Other 1a$4war% C#asses *O1Cs+ in the Centra#

servi$es starte% on a nationa# -asis in 9::! with the i"#eentation of the (an%a#Coission Re"ort! thou&h it ha% -een in e/isten$e in soe States for 0uite soe

tie! for e/a"#e! in the four Southern States where it ha% e/iste% in one for or the

other even -efore 'n%e"en%en$e. hi#e its a$tua# i"#eentation &ot a -oost in 9::!

the ena-#in& "rovision e/iste% in the ori&ina# Constitution sin$e 9:;3 in the for ofArti$#e 9;*


4/10

! r&ll+ in 3&n&lore in 2006 &&inst the %entr&l o*ernments mo*e to reser*e

se&ts for )&c,w&r' c&stes in profession&l collees. It is time the rel&ti*el+

&'*&nce' comm-nities &re 'esche'-le' &s recommen'e' )+ the Lo,-r

%ommittee in 165.

The &overnent! in the ear#) )ears! seee% 0uite o"enin%e%. Even after havin&

a%e &enerous ena-#in& "rovisions! it 4e"t #oo4in& to assess the i"a$t of the "rovisions. Aon& the ear#iest atte"ts was the $onstitution of the first 1a$4war%

C#asses Coission in Januar) 9:;! un%er the $hairanshi" of Ka4a Ka#e#4ar. This

$oission su-itte% its re"ort on (ar$h ! 9:;;! with five e-ers re$or%in&notes of %issent! an% three o""osin& #in4in& $aste with reservation. Even Ka#e#4ar %i%

not a&ree with $aste -ein& a -asis for reservation! an% sai% so in his #etter whi#e

forwar%in& the re"ort to the Presi%ent>

5Nationa# so#i%arit) %ean%s that in a %eo$rati$ setu" the Governent re$o&niseon#) two en%s the in%ivi%ua# at one en% an% the nation as a who#e at the other an%

that nothin& shou#% -e en$oura&e% to or&anise itse#f in -etween these two en%s to the

%etrient of the free%o of the in%ivi%ua# an% so#i%arit) of the nation. A## $ouna#an% %enoinationa# or&anisations an% &rou"in&s of #esser an% narrower units have to

-e wat$he% $arefu##) so that the) %o not ,eo"ar%ise the nationa# so#i%arit) an% %o not

wea4en the efforts of the nation to serve a## the various e#eents in the -o%) "o#iti$

with e0uit)6 *"a&e iv! "ara 9


5/10

5The ree%ies we su&&este% were worse than the evi# we were out to $o-at.6 He

foun% that 5The s"e$ia# $on$essions an% "rivi#e&es a$$or%e% to the Hin%u $astes

a$te% as a -ait an% a -ri-e in$itin& (us#i an% Christian so$iet) to revert to $aste an%$aste "re,u%i$es an% the hea#th) so$ia# refors effe$te% -) 's#a an% Christianit)

were -ein& thus ren%ere% nu## an% voi%. (us#is $ae forwar% to "rove that e/$e"tfor the four u""er $astes! nae#)! Shei4h! S)e%! (o&hu# an% Pathan! a## the other(us#i $astes were inferior an% -a$4war%. The 'n%ian Christians a#so were "re"are%

to fa## in the tra"6 *"a&e vi! "ara =3+.

'n e/$e"tiona# $an%our! he a%itte% that it was on#) when the re"ort was -ein&

fina#ise% that he starte% thin4in& anew an% foun% that -a$4war%ness $ou#% -e ta$4#e%on a nu-er of -ases other than that of $aste. This! a$$or%in& to hi! on#) su$$ee%e%

in raisin& the sus"i$ion of the a,orit) of the e-ers of the $oission that he

was tr)in& to tor"e%o the re$oen%ations of the $oission. His own view was>5e ust -e a-#e to he#" -oth 'n%ian Christians an% (us#is without their -ein&

%riven to a$$e"t the fissi"arous "rin$i"#e of $aste.6 He then went on to a4e thein$isive rear4> 5On$e we es$hew the "rin$i"#e of $aste! it wi## -e "ossi-#e to he#"

the e/tree#) "oor an% %eservin& fro a## $ounities6 *"ara =+.

The $on$#u%in& rear4s of Ka#e#4ar are ver) instru$tive>

5Two )ears of e/"erien$e have $onvin$e% us of the dangers of the spread of

casteism an% have a#so #e% us to the conclusion that it would have been better if

we could determine the criteria of backwardness on principles other than caste6*"a&e /iv! "ara 23+ .

The Coission %i% not "resent a unanious re"ort! an% the re"ort was neitherta-#e% in Par#iaent nor i"#eente%. 1ut in a (eoran%u of A$tion Ta4en on the

re"ort! #ai% in Par#iaent! the &overnent sai%>

5't $annot -e %enie% that the caste system is the greatest hindrance in the way of our progress towards an egalitarian society! an% the recognition of the specified castes

as backward may serve to maintain and even perpetuate the existing distinctions on

the basis of caste. 'f the entire $ounit)! -arrin& a few e/$e"tions! has thus to -ere&ar%e% as -a$4war%! the really needy would be swamped by the multitude and

hardly receive any special attention or adequate assistance! nor wou#% su$h

%is"ensation fu#fi# the $on%itions #ai% %own in Arti$#e

%efinin& -a$4war%ness! in the view of the Government of India it would be better to

apply economic tests than to go by caste.6

The ne/t i"ortant o-servations were a%e -) the Estiates Coittee in its


6/10

re"ort *for the finan$ia# )ear 9:;F;:+>

5hi#e the Coittee $onsi%er that it is %esira-#e that "referen$e -e &iven to the less

advanced aon& the S$he%u#e% Castes an% S$he%u#e% Tri-es in "rovision of a##

fa$i#ities! the) wou#% #i4e to o-serve that the tendency on the part of some castes and tribes to get themselves listed as backward merely to get concessions is undesirable

and must be discouraged . 'n this $onne$tion! the Coittee wou#% #i4e to re"ro%u$e

-e#ow an e/tra$t fro the Re"ort of the Coissioner for S$he%u#e% Castes an%S$he%u#e% Tri-es for 9:;2;@>

1a$4war%ness has a ten%en$) to "er"etuate itse#f an% those who are #iste% as

-a$4war% tr) to reain as su$h! %ue to various $on$essions an% -enefits the) %erive!

an% thus backwardness becomes a vested interest .

5The Coissioner *for S$he%u#e% Castes+ has su&&este% in his Re"ort for 9:;@;F

that if the ultimate goal of classless and casteless society is to be attained, the list ofScheduled Castes and Scheduled ribes and even of !ther "ackward Classes will

have to be reduced from year to year and replaced in due course by a list based onthe criteria of Income#cum#$erit%&'he Committee recommend that the weaker

sections of society should be defined and criteria for special assistance laid down on

the basis of economic status and educational and social backwardness.6

Ne/t was the A%visor) Coittee on the revision of #ists of the S.Cs an% the S.Ts!

set u" on June 9! 9:2;! un%er the $hairanshi" of 1.N. Bo4ur! then Se$retar)!

(inistr) of Baw. The Bo4ur Coittee a%e soe ver) insi&htfu# o-servations!

soe of whi$h have -een e$hoe% in severa# Su"ree Court ,u%&ents in re$ent

)ears. One su$h is in "ara 9 of its re"ort>

5The "a$e of so$ia# $han&e has 0ui$4ene% sin$e 'n%e"en%en$e an% e%u$ationa# an%

e$onoi$ stan%ar%s have i"rove%I tra%itiona# so$ia# -arriers have visi-#) $ru-#e%! "arti$u#ar#) in ur-an an% in%ustria#ise% areas. 'n s"ite of this o-vious "osition! we

have witnesse% the extraordinary phenomenon! whi$h ha% *a#so+ -een noti$e% ear#ier

-) other $oissions! of castes and communities solemnly setting forth their desire

to be considered backward and included in the Schedules for special treatment . 'nsevera# States! we have $oe a$ross a multitude of organisations of castes and

tribes, a few even at the all#India level, whose main ob(ect is to secure or retain a

place in the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled ribes. One S$he%u#e%

Caste political leader from a northern State said candidly that he would be preparedto forgo economic and other development benefits if special political rights are

guaranteed ! -e$ause on$e "o#iti$a# ri&hts are a$0uire%! an)thin& the) %esire% wou#%fo##ow. he really backward communities! however! #oo4 forwar% to the reservations

an% other fa$i#ities for re$ruitent to the servi$es! e%u$ationa# $on$essions an%

-enefits of e$onoi$ %eve#o"ent s$hees! an% are not $on$erne% with "o#iti$a#

"rivi#e&es.6


7/10

The a-ove o-servation! a%e in 9:2;! sees to -e even ore va#i% to%a) in =33F

than it i&ht have -een in 9:2;.

THE H'NDU PHOTO B'1RAR

7&,& 7&lel,&r %h&irm&n the first 3&c,w&r' %l&sses %ommission.

Pro"heti$a##)! an% "ossi-#) anti$i"atin& events su$h as the one that ha""ene% in

Ra,asthan with three $ounities Gu,,ars! Jats an% (eenas *in a#"ha-eti$a# or%er+

as4in& for in$#usion in the #ists of STs an% O1Cs! the Bo4ur Coittee o-serve%>

5't has -een in evi%en$e for soe tie now that a lion)s share of the various benefitsand concessions earmarked for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled ribes is

appropriated by the numerically larger and politically well organised communities*

he smaller and more backward communities have tended to get lost in thedemocratic process, though more deserving of special aid***

5hi#e we a""re$iate the ne$essit) of "rovi%in& s"e$ia# assistan$e for the u"#ift of

the S$he%u#e% Castes an% S$he%u#e% Tri-es unti# the) rise to the avera&e stratu of

so$iet)! we re&ret to note that the listing of these castes and tribes has more or lesscreated vested interests and has tended to damp to some extent personal effort and

enterprise to improve one)s position and fortune* Inclusion in the lists is regarded

more as a coveted prize than as a reflection of backwardness%*& A #ar&e nu-er of "roinent "eo"#e+ who we et in the $ourse of our in0uir) asserte% that! in the

interests of national integration an% in view of the $han&es whi$h have ta4en "#a$e

%urin& the #ast 9; )ears! the time has come to do away gradually with these

privileged classes! "arti$u#ar#) in view of the in$reasin& %ean% for in$#usion

therein! an% to organise development schemes without reference to castes and tribes.

5The least that should be done, we are told, is to fix a time limit for the currency of


8/10

the lists . 'n an) $ase! the $onsensus of o"inion e/"resse% -efore us has -een that the

e"hasis shou#% -e on the &ra%ua# e#iination of the #ar&er an% ore a%van$e%

$ounities fro these #ists! an% on fo$ussin& &reater attention on the rea##) -a$4war% se$tions! "refera-#) -) a""#)in& an e$onoi$ )ar%sti$46 *"aras 9

"a&es F:+.

Referrin& to a $on$e"t not usua##) hear% these %a)s! the Bo4ur Coittee su&&este%>

5'n view of the wei&ht) views e/"resse% a-ove an% in the interests of nationalintegration! we fee# that the tie has $oe when the 0uestion of descheduling of

relatively advanced communities should receive serious and urgent consideration6

*"ara 92! "a&e 93+.

The Ju%i$ia# View

The issue of reservation! "arti$u#ar#) $aste-ase% reservation! has $oe -efore the

,u%i$iar) often an% an) Hi&h Court an% Su"ree Court ,u%&ents on variousas"e$ts are avai#a-#e.

Startin& with $*+* "ala(i and others vs the State of $ysore *A'R 9:2! SC 2

Cate&orisation of an) $#ass as -a$4war% so#e#) on the -asis of $aste is not "eritte% -) Arti$#e 9;*


9/10

proclaimed with one voice that our constitutional goal is to establish a casteless and

classless society. (ahata Gan%hi sai%> The $aste s)ste as we 4now is an

ana$hronis. 't ust &o if -oth Hin%uis an% 'n%ia are to #ive an% &row fro %a) to%a). The first Prie (inister! Pt. Jawahar Ba# Nehru! sai% that no one shou#% -e #eft

in an) %ou-t that the future 'n%ian so$iet) was to -e $aste#ess an% $#ass#ess. Dr. 1.R. A-e%4ar $a##e% $aste antinationa#.6

The s$ene to%a)

Des"ite what the various review $oittees an% $oissions set u" -) the

&overnent itse#f an% the ,u%i$iar) have sai% re"eate%#) over the )ears! $aste-ase%

reservation $ontinues to in$rease. State after State! whether it is Tai# Na%u! Orissa!

Jhar4han%! or now Ra,asthan! is now $#aourin& to in$rease the "er$enta&e ofreserve% seats free#) a-ove the ;3 "er $ent #iit #ai% %own -) the Su"ree Court.

An% %es"ite the Tai# Na%u #aw -ein& un%er review in the Su"ree Court! atte"ts

are sti## -ein& a%e! %ef)in& the Su"ree Court! to "ut su$h #aws in the NinthS$he%u#e of the Constitution in or%er to "ut the -e)on% the rea$h of the Su"ree

Court. h)

't is not that the $urrent $ro" of "o#iti$ians %o not 4now that 5our $onstitutiona# &oa#

is to esta-#ish a $aste#ess an% $#ass#ess so$iet)6 -ut the) %o nee% votes. An% one ofthe ost effe$tive wa)s of &ettin& votes is o-i#isation of the e#e$torate on the -asis

of $aste. 'nstea% of -ein& an o$$u"ation%efinin& $#assifi$ation! $aste has re

in$arnate% as a $#assifi$ation for "o#iti$a# o-i#isation. So #on& as $aste he#"s "o#iti$ians &et votes! we $an rest assure% that $aste is here to sta). As a atter of fa$t!

if its vote%e#iverin& $a"a$it) in$reases! it a) we## -e in the "o#iti$ians interest to

a4e it stron&er. An% if reservation -ase% on $aste a4es $aste stron&er! so -e it.

's there a wa) out of this i"asse Sa%#)! it %oes not see #i4e it. One wa) $ou#% -efor our "o#iti$ians to -e$oe so "rin$i"#e% as to sto" see4in& votes on the -asis of

$aste an% see4 votes -ase% on i%eo#o&ies! -e#iefs! "rin$i"#es! "o#i$ies! an%

"ro&raes. This sees un#i4e#)! &iven what various "o#iti$a# "arties announ$e% asthe -asis for their %e$isions to vote on the nu$#ear %ea#. The other is for us! the voters!

to sto" votin& on the -asis of $aste! one)! #i0uor! an% so on! an% vote on the -asis of

i%eo#o&ies! -e#iefs! "rin$i"#es! "o#i$ies! "ro&raes! an% the tra$4 re$or%s of

"o#iti$a# "arties. 's that #i4e#) to ha""en! an% when! is an)ones &uess.

'n the eanwhi#e! inno$ent an% naive "eo"#e wi## 4ee" %)in& in the vain ho"e ofservin& their $ounities! an% "o#iti$ians wi## 4ee" a4in& $o"#ete#) i"ra$ti$a#

"roises an% winnin& e#e$tions.

0agdeep S* Chhokar is a retired professor of the Indian Institute of $anagement, hmedabad, and one of the founding members of the ssociation for 1emocratic

+eforms*


10/10

Caste card-Frontline.doc

Documents

Transcript of Caste card-Frontline.doc