Falling Over Backwards An Essay on Reservations, and on Judicial Populism

How is it that what was explicity forbidden by the Constitution- classification based on cast - has become the rule? How is it that what were enabling provision have become mandatory minima ? Where does the figure 50 per cent come from ? How is that in practice it is exceeded blatantly ? Are the benefits not being hogged by a few, the better -off among these castes? Has the creamy layer been actually hived off? How is that what were begun as reservations in promotion also? How did this become a right to accelerated promotions? How did that become a right accelerated promotions with consequential seniority? How did that become a right to have the prescribed standards diluted -to the point of being waived altogether? Even in educational institutions. Is this any way to become a knowledge super- power? As there has been no caste-wise enumeration and tabulation since the 1931 Census, where does this mythical figure --OBCs are 52 per cent of the population come from? And what did the 1931 Census itself say about its cast -wise figures?