EWS quota is antithetical to constitutional wisdom: AISA

“If the Modi govt is really committed to uplifting the economically weaker sections, why are they depriving the Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs by denying them EWS quota...”

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Supreme Court’s decision on the EWS quota is unfortunate and disappointing as it violates the basic spirit of the constitution, says the All India Student Association (AISA) on Tuesday.

“Various democratic forces are of the opinion that the number of seats under reservation of SC/ ST and OBC should be increased. Whenever such demands are raised, the anti-reservation lobby cites the 50 percent ceiling criteria to reject that demand.

The EWS reservation flouts that 50 percent ceiling. But to our astonishment, we find that the criterion of the constitutional ceiling was comfortably ignored to make way for this EWS reservation. This shows the inherent casteist bias of the RSS-BJP,” said a statement by AISA Karnataka.

On November 7, the Supreme Court of India upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitution Amendment, which provides 10 percent reservation to EWS in admissions and government jobs. This reservation was introduced in 2019. In 2019, months before the imminent general election, the Modi government introduced EWS reservations, flouting all constitutional norms on reservations.

“The pliant and obsequious Godi Media channels jumped into the foray of portraying it as another historical step. The basic idea of reservation in our constitution is based on the idea of social and educational backwardness. In this way, EWS is antithetical to constitutional wisdom,” said AISA.

They also questioned why SC, ST and OBC communities are not allowed to apply for the EWS quota. “If the Modi government is really committed to uplifting the economically weaker sections, why are they depriving the Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs by denying them EWS quota? Do they believe that there is no poverty among these social groups?

It is academically proven that poverty is more concentrated among the Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs. This shows why this ‘EWS Reservation’ is a farce and a ploy of exclusion of the Dalit’s, Adivasis and OBCs,” said AISA.