'Those Who Have Already Secured Seats': SC Judge Likens Reservation System To Train Journey

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Surya Kant likened the reservation system in the country with Railways.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court was hearing a case related to the OBC reservation in the local body elections in Maharashtra.

Source : PTI

A Supreme Court Judge on Tueday spoke on the caste-based reservation in the country and likened it to a train journey saying those who secure their seats doe not want others to enter the same compartment. 

The remark was made by Justice Surya Kant, who along with Justice NK Singh was hearing a case related to the OBC reservation in the local body elections in Maharashtra, according to LiveLaw. 

Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that the State's Banthia Commission granted reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the local body election without ascertaining if they were politically backward.

He also contended that political backwardness was distinct from social and educational backwardness adding that OBCs cannot be automatically presumed to be politically backward. 

'Reservation Business Like Railway'

Responding to Sankaranarayanan's remark, Justice Surya Kant said: "The thing is, in this country, the reservation business has become like a railway. Those who have entered the bogie, they don't want anyone else to enter. That is the whole game. That is precisely the game of the petitioner also."

"And bogies are being added at the back also," replied Sankaranarayanan, the report added.  

Justice Surya Kant further said: "When you follow the principle of inclusivity, the States are bound to identify more classes. There will be social backward class, politically backwards class, and economically backward classes. Why should they be deprived of the benefit? Why should it be confined to one particular family or groups?"

Sankaranarayanan said that the petitioner was also raising the same point. 

During the hearing, the bench flagged the long overdue elections to the local bodies in Maharashtra and said it cannot be delayed further because of the issue of OBC reservations.