IBNLive Chat: OBC quota, is this the end of merit?

HARD TALK: CNN-IBN's National Affairs Editor Diptosh Majumdar discusses issues on quota.

People who read this also read:

Even Stephens: College quota, a minor issue?

Is this the death of brand St Stephen's? CNN-IBN debates.

• Court passes quota with some reservations
• 'Better infrastructure needed to fit in quota students'

Featured Blog

Vivian Fernandes

Winning the trust vote might be good for WTO talks

Featured Slideshows

Related Headlines

powered by

• Even Stephens: College quota, a minor issue?
• Court passes quota with some reservations
• 'Better infrastructure needed to fit in quota students'

Keywords: Chat, Online

The Supreme Court upheld a law, which provides for 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in educational institutions supported by the Central government. It has, however, excluded the creamy layer from enjoying the benefits of the OBC quota.

Shouldn't the Government have hiked the total number of seats in IITs, IIMs and other colleges supported by the Centre, before implementing this? What will happen to meritorious students belonging to the general category?

CNN-IBN's National Affairs Editor Diptosh Majumdar discusses all these questions in an Online Chat with readers on IBNlive.com.

Here we reproduce the unedited text of the chat.

Aditrya: I am just interested in knowing if, through the course of arguments, there was any mention of implementing the OBC quota on a larger scale, i.e. not only in just the central universities, IITs etc(which are only a handful, after all), but also in private institutes. That way, perhaps, the percentage of reserved seats could potentially have been much less, say 5% or 10%. I am not presupposing the intelligence levels of people entering under quota, but the sheer concept has the drawback of being settlement till eternity. Remember that SC/ST quota was to be for only 10 years when the Constitution was drafted. Those who benefit from it are expected to help their fellow community members on a cumulative basis and not hold the country to ransom. As things stand, there are no hopes that such quotas are even remotely time-bound.

Diptosh Majumdar: Constitutionally that is possible...but then the courts might intervene...that will be difficult for the government to implement.

Sandhya: The cream layer like IITians,IIMS are already leaving the country , Now it looks like they are not getting chance to even study in India. Arent we losing the cream layer to other nations because of these reservations?

Diptosh Majumdar: Sandhya, if somebody wants to leave the country he or she will always look for greener pastures. IIT and IIM reservation will only be an excuse. Tell me how many people are genuine patriots. I have met a group of doctors from AIIMS who are working in the Chhatisgarh jungles to treat tribal. I think people like them matter in the end.

Manik : Sir, we from General category would be affected how much in all calculations????

Diptosh Majumdar: Not that hugely to begin with. It will take time to take effect. The OBCs will also take time to understand how much potential this entire reservation has for them.

S Bhasin: So you agree partly with SC's decision... Now, a straight question: do you agree as a human or you are worried that your channel will be branded as anti-SC? please clarify.

Diptosh Majumdar: Why should I be worried about the judiciary? Once the judgement is out, we are free to comment on it. I said before the Supreme Court has seen merit in the reservation. The judges believe that a social correction needs to be made. So I partly agree with their logic. But I don't know how the judges changed their mind in a year's time. I am yet to read the voluminous judgement. If you recall the division bench had asked in 2006 on what basis the government had arrived at the figure of 27. After all there has been no caste census. I have to figure that out how the judges were now convinced about the number. At the end of the day 27 per cent is a huge percentage.