Explain how the system of reservation is followed by our central legislature ie our parliament. Why do you think it is justified? (100 words approx pls)
Answers
Reservation is a system of affirmative action in India that provides historically disadvantaged groups representation in education, employment and politics. Based on provisions in the Indian Constitution, it allows the Indian government to set reserved quotas or seats, which lower the qualifications needed in exams, job openings etc. for "socially and economically backward citizens."
In India, a number of political positions and university posts are held for specific groups of the population, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and women.
There are reserved constituencies in both Parliamentary and State Assembly elections. General category candidates are not eligible to contest in these constituencies. All voters are rights to vote for one candidate from their respective cast or tribe. In the case of municipal and other Local elections, the constituencies are known as wards. Thus, there may be as many wards or constituencies as the number of elected seats in the elected body. Reserved constituencies are constituencies in which seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes based on the size of their population.
In the earlier history of India under British rule, a separate electorate meant that not only were the seats reserved for a specific group, but voting for the reserved constituency was allowed for only members of that specific community. For example, only Muslims could vote for Muslim candidates in Muslim reserved constituencies.
The Women's Reservation Bill or The Constitution (108th Amendment) Bill, 2008, is a pending bill in the Parliament of India which proposes to amend the Constitution of India to reserve 1/3rd of all seats in the Lower house of Parliament of India, the Lok Sabha, and in all state legislative assemblies for women. The seats were proposed to be reserved in rotation and would have been determined by draw of lots in such a way that a seat would be reserved only once in three consecutive general elections.