Quotas to fix past injustice creates new injustice

Dear Supreme Court judges, You have approved a 10% job and educational quota for economically weaker sections in addition to the 49% quotas for Dalits, tribals and OBCs (other backward castes). This adds reverse discrimination on economic grounds to those on historical grounds.

- SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR

In effect, you have rejected "merit" as a mirage. Indeed, one of you said that treating unequal people as equal was actually a form of inequality that is not constitutional.

Having enunciated this principle, why restrict it to jobs and education? Why not extend it to other fields? Start with cricket, which provides jobs galore directly and indirectly.

The Indian cricket team is chosen on merit. But your verdict suggests this is an illusion created by historical caste domination. How many Dalits or tribals are in the national or state teams? Very few.

Some call Sachin Tendulkar the greatest batsman ever.

But he had the advantage of being a Brahmin. Others call Sunil Gavaskar the greatest batsman. Alas, another Brahmin. In bowling, the greatest Test wicket-taker is Anil Kumble. One more Brahmin. The captain of the T20 cricket team is a Brahmin, Rohit Sharma. Ishant Sharma dominated fast bowling for a decade. Rahul Sharma has played for the Indian team and Sandeep Sharma for the under-19 team. The chief test selector is Chetan Sharma.

The coach of the Indian team, Rahul Dravid, is a Brahmin. So was his predecessor, Ravi Shastri. So was his predecessor, Anil Kumble. Not a Dalit or tribal coach in sight.