Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov 7: In a historic decision, the Supreme Court confirmed the constitutionality of the 103rd Amendment, which grants members of the economically weaker sections (EWS) a 10% reserve in admissions and government posts.
The opposition parties did not adopt a unified position in support or opposition to the judgement. Some parties applauded the Supreme Court’s decision, while others referred to it as a “setback to the movement for social justice.”
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh praised the highest court’s decision and gave former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh credit for starting the process that resulted in the 103rd Constitutional Amendment.
“Congress welcomes today’s Supreme Court judgment upholding the 103rd Constitutional Amendment that provides for the 10% reservation quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) belonging to castes other than SC/ST/OBCs,” said Congress MP and General Secretary Jairam Ramesh.
“The Amendment itself was the result of a process initiated by Dr Manmohan Singh’s government in 2005-06 with the appointment of the Sinho Commission that submitted its report in July 2010. Thereafter, widespread consultations were held and the Bill was ready by 2014,” he added.
“It took the Modi Sarkar five years to get the Bill enacted. It also bears mention here that the Socio Economic and Caste Census was completed by 2012, when I myself was the Union Rural Development Minister. The Modi Sarkar has yet to clarify its position on an updated Caste Census, something that the Congress party supports and demands,” he further added.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the government of Tamil Nadu and an ally of the Congress, had an opposite viewpoint. The ruling in the reservation case for economically disadvantaged sections, according to DMK President and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin, is a “setback in the century-long campaign for social justice.”
“Today’s verdict in the reservation case for economically backward classes is a setback in the century-long struggle for social justice,” said Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin.
“After a thorough analysis of the judgment and consultation with legal experts, a decision will be taken regarding the next steps to continue our struggle against this system of reservation for the forward community which is against social justice,” he added.
