The Development of Reservation Policies Under Article 15 of the Indian Constitution and Social Justice in India

Abstract

This article examines the evolution and impact of reservation policies under Article 15 of the Indian Constitution and their role in advancing social justice in India. The historical context of inequality in India, rooted in the varna and caste systems, has profoundly influenced contemporary constitutional provisions. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law, while Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds such as religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. Article 15(1) and 15(2) collectively aim to eliminate discriminatory practices in public life and access to public places. Article 15(3) allows for special provisions for women and children, and Article 15(4) provides a constitutional basis for affirmative action to benefit socially and educationally backward classes, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Recent amendments, including Article 15(5) and the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act introducing Article 15(6), expand reservations to private educational institutions and reinforcing caste identities, socio-economic disparities within reserved categories, and the balance between affirmative action and meritocracy persist. The researcher has emphases the reservation policies aim to enhance social equity and opportunities for marginalized communities, their effectiveness is complex and influenced by ongoing socio-economic factors. The role of the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, remains pivotal in interpreting and implementing these provisions to ensure true equality and social justice.