Last week, the Supreme Court quashed petitions by anti-quota activists challenging the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006.
A five-judge bench upheld the Constitution amendment law providing for 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes in IITs, IIMs and other central educational institutions, in addition to existing reservations for ST/SC category students.
We invited readers to comment on how this would affect their educational choices and careers -- here are a few of the more interesting responses we received:
I have completed my course from iit madras in 2007. from my experience i would like to suggest to stop immediately the reservation system. the following reasons are:
1) higher education should not be from political view, that would be applicable only through the merit lists.
2) it is correct that only rich people, who are backward classes could come to that stage to study IIT or IIM, but it would not fulfill the original purpose of the reservation.
3) if you give the more opportunity to such people, they would not study at all. but they will reserve the seats.
in conclusion, i strongly hate the reservation system in higher education level. this is the shame of our education level and victory of political issue.
-- Animesh
Sixty years of reservation for backward classes has made them more backward. I say this, because now the backward classes require more & more reservation. Do you think this makes sense?
People who are already classified backward are trying to show themselves as more backward so that they can get better reservations.
Do we have any right to know if reservation has helped any family? If yes does the next generation of the family require reservation?
-- Ram
I am PRABHAKAR KUMAR bearing age 18 yrs from ranchi. I think that the decision regarding the reservation of OBC's except the 'creamy layer' is a right decision, no doubt it would greatly help in improving the education standards and is a right step towards the development of the country.
-- Prabhakar Kumar
Certainly this reservation policy will not harm good students in any way but it will badly damage the reputation of premier institute. good students can join any private institute and i am sure that some are even better than that and they will make their career but what will happen to govt hospitals and institution which are already in trouble? we have seen 25 percent less students appeared in cpmt this year.
it will effect the class where a student scoring zero marks will sit with a student scoring 80 per marks. i wonder how teacher will manage. i suggest if reservation is at all necessary few most ultra modern iit and iim should be developed exclusive for them and these students should be taught in pattern of kota coaching classes then i feel something can happen better. but i am confident that even 100 per reservation in premier institute will not harm in any way rather make them strong and students enjoying reservation will move here and there for good job as you can easily see students passing from nit in this category.
-- Tupur Chavkravarty
I really wonder why the reservation percentage keep on increasing for professional education and all. It is really understandable to give reservation starting from primary education for the needy. But professionally educated people are supposed to key decisions in the respective field. It should be purely based on talent and not on anything else.
Are we heading in a way like , we can determine CEO/Business Executives just based on this?
And one more question that is reservation necessary for the elite Institutions like IIMs/IITs that are brand for the quality education in India ?
-- Kislay
How will the Supreme Court's decision affect you as a student personally?
Share your views with us. Write to us at getahead@rediff.co.in -- be sure to include your name, age and contact details. Relevant responses from students personally affected will be published right here on Rediff.com.