INTERESTINGLY, the cacophony of the reservation drama seems to have cleverly sidelined the law to ensure reservations in private educational institutions. The law that will be enacted by the Centre should fully reflect all the provisions envisaged in the 93rd amendment. The issue of ensuring reservations in private educational institutions in Central government-controlled areas should be part of the new law.

Not many of the urban elite know that all the states, particularly the southern states, have already had reservations for backward classes in educational institutions since the early 20th century. These states now need to enact legislations for implementing Article 15 (5) by enacting enabling laws for reservations in private institutions.

The country will witness real equality of opportunity, when the elite institutions (albeit reluctantly or with another drama a la medical students) open their doors to the socially disadvantaged. The law should also insert a clause providing for compulsory rural service for doctors.

Chronology tells us that the delay in implementing the 93rd amendment is a reason for the existing cacophony. While Article 15 (5) was inserted in January 2006, the issue came into prominence only after a lapse of two months, the time taken to prepare the draft law. Since the elections came into play, the overtones of what forms the constitutional obligation of the government to bring in enabling provisions were smeared as pre-poll politicking. And then we had the stage shows called medical agitations.

The role played by the Left in the entire reservation imbroglio was crucial and will be the turning point in the history of bringing equality of opportunity to the backward classes to a full circle. The elections have shown that people prefer the Congress only when there is no viable Left.

... contd.