Q. Consider the following statements with reference to horizontal and vertical reservations in India:
1. Reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs is referred to as vertical reservation.
2. Horizontal reservation refers to the equal opportunity provided to women and individuals with disabilities.
3. The Fundamental Rights under Part III of the constitution provides only vertical reservation.
How many statements given above are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
Statement 1 is correct: Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes is referred to as vertical reservation. It applies separately for each of the groups specified under the law.
Statement 2 is correct: Horizontal reservation refers to the equal opportunity provided to other categories of beneficiaries such as women, veterans, the transgender community, and individuals with disabilities, cutting through the vertical categories.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Article 16(4) of the Constitution contemplates vertical reservation while Article 15 (3) of the Constitution contemplates horizontal reservation. Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution provides the State and Central Governments to reserve seats in government services for the members of the SC and ST. Article 15(3) makes it possible for the state to create special provisions for protecting the interests of women and children..
| Important Tips The Supreme Court had ruled that if a person belonging to an intersection of vertical-horizontal reserved category had secured scores high enough to qualify without the vertical reservation, the person would be counted as qualifying without the vertical reservation, and cannot be excluded from the horizontal quota in the general category. |
