Reservation Policy in India || Indian Polity || Shubhra Ranjan

India has scarce and limited public resources, reservations therefore have important social, economic and political implications. The resentment may have increased due to the expansion of reservation policy, which now incorporates backward classes as well. Despite the continuation of reservations for over six decades, discrimination against Dalits is still a part of everyday life. Some people who support caste-based reservations see it as an instrument for the development and representation of reserved categories. The National Human Rights Commission report (2004) observed that Dalits have low levels of representation in national universities and colleges. The Supreme Court has opined twice that there is no fundamental right to reservation. The first occasion was the case of Mukesh Kumar vs The State of Uttarakhand, involving the question of reservation in promotion. The other instance relates to reservation of seats for students in medical courses. There is a critical need to revise, refine and improve reservation policy in India depending upon its dynamic needs.