Friday, August 17, 2007

Parliamentary Panel for Quota in Higher Judiciary

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2288700.cms

Reservation in any place is a regressive idea as the sole criterion for such reservation relegates merit to a lower priority. Advocates of reservations in judiciary, higher education and placements in govt jobs, even if they have a 'social justice agenda’, which most of the time is not the case, can always find irrefutable arguments in its favor. But the end result is always suppression of merit and lowering of standards in public life. Besides, it is bound to frustrate meritorious candidates and encourage mediocrity amongst contenders for such privileges. It violates the very principle of equal opportunity in a democratic nation like ours.

There is another angle to the reservation issue; any individual benefiting from reservation policies is sure to lack the confidence required for fulfilling responsibilities of the position gained through such shortcut methods to success; Exceptions rising to the occasion notwithstanding. Viewed in that sense, reservation of any kind is not just a regressive idea but an oppressive one too!

1 comment:

Saurabh J. Madan said...

I think we should explore the justifications offered by the people who have proposed this reservation. Are there real instances in which justice was denied because of caste biases of the judges?

Given the abysmally slow pace of justice in India, I really wonder how much worse the judiciary can get. Still, I dont want to take the chance.

Additionally, no reservation should ever be given without instituting mechanisms to exclude the creamy layer. For if we don’t exclude the creamy layer, we violate the very principle we use to justify reservation – that of positive affirmation of underprivileged people.