Time to cut down job quota, says Kerala HC

The observation was made by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S R Bannurmath and Justice A K Basheer while upholding the state government order providing reservation for financially backward students of forward communities for UG and PG courses in government educational institutions.

“Students of  backward communities should secure their admission at higher and postgraduate level by competing with meritorious students,’’ the bench said while dismissing the petition filed by the Kerala Muslim Jama-Ath Council challenging the government order.

“Reservation has caused revolutionary change in the socioeconomic situation of the people belonging to the backward class. Now they have to wake up from the slumber of satiated insouciance. Providing financial reservation for poor segment of forward castes will not in any way affect the rights of the backward class and the benefits that they are enjoying, ’’ the justices said.

The court said that the demand that the poorer segment of the people of forward castes should not be given some solace was totally uncharitable. “In the prevailing scenario, social and economic backwardness of forward castes in the state has created a social havoc, especially after enacting the Land Reforms Legislation,’’ the court said.

The court said that many students of forward castes failed to get admission as they were considered only on the basis of merit. “After allocation of seats under various quota, number of merit seats are comparatively less. Those denied admission are forced to discontinue studies as they are unable to afford the expense for doing courses at private institutions,’’ the court said.

On the petitioner’s contention that Muslim community had not been given due consideration in educational sector, the court said that the overall situation of Muslims in the state had undergone tremendous change, especially in the past few years. ``It is high time that the community leaders should think of shedding their `backward' tag and get prepared to compete with others for a slot in general merit category,'' the court said.