Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Caution against crossing 50% quota

HYDERABAD: Lok Satta has cautioned the government that extending reservations in educational institutions and government jobs beyond the present 50 per cent mandated by the Supreme Court as it would open a Pandora’s Box.

Taking exception to State government’s efforts to increase the percentage of reservation to gain political mileage in the run-up to the elections, the party’s working committee at its meeting on Monday warned that it could lead to untoward incidents, disturbing the social equilibrium and perpetuating caste prejudices, it said.

The meeting chaired by party president Jayaprakash Narayan also passed a resolution recalling that the Supreme Court had not only capped the reservations for weaker sections at 50 per cent, but also declared the ceiling formed basic structure of the Constitution.

The Apex Court which faulted the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments which exceeded the cap said it would review the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution if other States followed suit, the resolution added.

The party also pointed out that it was evident that the reservation benefits were cornered only by a few as the bulk of the deserving ended up as drop outs.

Instead, government should provide free and quality education to all up to Std. 12 with English and computer studies and award bonus marks of 10 per cent to children from all rural and urban poor families to help them in academic admissions and government jobs.

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