Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Indra Sawhney v. Union of India was the landmark case that established the 50% ceiling on reservations in India.
2.The 50% reservation cap in India is meant to ensure complete equality of opportunity for all social groups.
3.The 50% reservation cap in India applies uniformly to all government jobs and educational institutions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation –
Statement 1 is correct. The Indra Sawhney v. Union of India case in 1992 (also known as the Mandal Commission case) was the landmark case that established the 50% ceiling on reservations in India.
Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect. The 50% reservation cap was not meant to ensure complete equality of opportunity for all social groups. Rather, it was established to strike a balance between affirmative action and the principle of equality. The Supreme Court held that reservations should be “exercised in a fair manner and within reasonable limits” to avoid destroying “the very concept of equality”. While the 50% cap was initially meant to apply broadly, there have been several exceptions and challenges to this rule over the years. For example: Tamil Nadu has maintained 69% reservation since 1993, despite the cap. The 103rd Constitutional Amendment in 2019 introduced a 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), which was implemented over and above the existing 50% reservation.
Source: AIR
