Supreme Court upholds 10% quota for EWS: Top quotes from verdict

Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Justice Bela M Trivedi, and Justice JB Pardiwala ruled in favour of the quota, stating that the law on reservation for EWS does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution. Meanwhile, Justice S Ravindra Bhat dissented and Chief Justice of India UU Lalit concurred with him.

Here are the top quotes from the judgment:

• Justice Dinesh Maheshwari: “EWS quota does not violate equality and basic structure of the constitution. Reservation in addition to existing reservation does not violate provisions of the Constitution.”
• Justice Maheshwari: Basic structure can’t be breached by enabling state to make provisions for education. Reservations for EWS does not violate basic structure on account of 50% ceiling limit because ceiling limit is not inflexible.
• Justice Bela M Trivedi: “Socially and Educationally Backward Classes form separate categories. They can’t be treated at par with unreserved category. Benefit under EWS can’t be said to be discriminatory.”
• Justice S Ravindra Bhat: “Reservation is contrary to the essence of equal opportunity. The 103rd amendment practices prohibited forms of discrimination.”
• Justice S Ravindra Bhat: “Reservations were designed as powerful tool to enable equal access. Introduction of economic criteria and excluding SC, ST, OBC, saying they had these pre-existing benefits is injustice.”
• Justice S Ravindra Bhat: “By excluding the poor among SC/ST/OBC from economically backward classes, the amendment practices constitutionally prohibited forms of discrimination.”
• Justice Pardiwala: “Reservation is not an end, it is a means. It should not be allowed to become a vested interest.”