Has the government ended up "diminishing" the opportunities of candidates who compete for jobs and seats in government institutions purely on merit by carving out a 10% quota for 'economically weaker sections' (EWS) from the general category, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court asked the Centre on Wednesday.
A five-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit pointed out that 50% academic seats and jobs in the general category are open to all, including the creamy layer of the Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and forward classes. In short, everybody who wants to compete on merit.
