EWS Survives

SC rightly okays economic criteria for quotas. But questions remain on ‘breaching’ 50% quota cap

The 3-2 Supreme Court verdict upholding the 103rd ConstitutionAmendment Act that provided 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections has given the stamp of legitimacy to economic criteria for reservations. This is welcome. The poor, irrespective of social group, are at a disadvantage and affirmative actions, reservations included, should be considered. However, the sharp disagreement between the majority and minority judgments on the question of 50% cap on reservations may have set the stage for future controversies.