Injustice Towards BCs Since Time Immemorial: Another Example - Women's Reservation Amendment Bill, 2026

 
The Central Government is set to introduce a constitutional amendment bill (The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill) in Parliament tomorrow (April 16, 2026) to implement women's reservation. Through this bill, women will immediately receive 33% reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. This includes a 1/3 sub-reservation for SC and ST women, and 1/3 reservation for women within the General category.

However, there is no special sub-reservation for OBC (BC) women. Because this is a horizontal reservation, it applies only to categories that already have vertical reservation (SC/ST). Since OBCs lack vertical reservation in legislative bodies, OBC women are excluded from this benefit. While this reservation is undoubtedly important for increasing women's political participation and granting them a dignified place in society, it completely neglects OBC women. Great leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Kanshi Ram had warned in the past that implementing women's reservation without an OBC quota would only benefit dominant castes. This is now coming true.

The Status of BCs in Independent India
Since independence, BCs have been consistently deceived, oppressed, and exploited. Before independence, thanks to the Manusmriti, Shudras (BCs) were denied property rights and participation in power, reduced to servants, and suppressed. This trend has continued post-independence.
Specifically, the use of the term "Backward Classes" in the Constitution created a dilemma that took courts 45 years to resolve. Before finality was achieved, several state orders providing reservations based on caste were challenged and struck down. While the Supreme Court upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court's stance in the 1972 Balaram vs. State of AP case, true finality only came with the Indra Sawhney (1992) case. It took 60 years for reservations in education to reach the central level.
The Constitution provides no definition for "Backward Classes" and no method for identification, which was likely a deliberate act to keep BCs in a state of perpetual ambiguity. If a definition similar to the Madras State (1941) list—which specified the communities—had been adopted, the issue would have been resolved decades ago. Just as SCs are defined as castes notified by the President under Article 341 and STs under Article 342, if BCs had been similarly defined, the 45-year struggle would not have been necessary. This is a clear conspiracy by the upper castes to suppress the BCs.

The Problem of Caste Census
Since the 1951 Census, Congress governments refused to count castes other than SC/ST. As a result, the population and the extent of backwardness (social, economic, political, and educational) of the BCs remain unknown. Only a caste census can reveal the truth, but the ruling classes do not want this. On one hand, traditional occupations have been destroyed; on the other, there are no alternative livelihoods, no financial aid, and no grants. The Central Government claims it will conduct a caste census in the 2027 Census, but the lack of an OBC column in the 2026 Household Survey casts serious doubt on that promise.

Injustice in the Political Sphere
There is no reservation for BCs in legislative bodies. If the current Parliament session had amended the law to include a sub-quota for BC women, it would have been a significant step. However, the upper-caste rulers have no such intention.

Judicial Intervention & The 50% Limit
The Constitution nowhere dictates a 50% limit on reservations in education and employment. Articles 16(4) and 15(5), as well as Articles 243D and 243T (local bodies), do not mention a 50% ceiling. Yet, courts limited reservations to 50% after accounting for SC/ST quotas. Surprisingly, when it comes to the 10% EWS reservation, these same courts support it despite it exceeding the 50% ceiling. One rule for BCs, another for upper castes—this is the "social justice" being practiced in this country.

The Fruits of Dr. Ambedkar’s Efforts
SC/ST communities gained reservations in education, employment, and politics proportionate to their population, followed by sub-plans and protective laws. But BCs (the country's majority) received only 27% in education and employment—nothing in legislatures, no sub-plans, no protective laws, and no grants.

"Return Gifts" from Manuwadi Parties
Parties are breaking the backbone of BCs by introducing the EWS quota (103rd Amendment) and this Women's Reservation Bill. When we ask for the 42% Reservation Bill (passed by the Telangana Assembly) to be placed in the 9th Schedule, it is kept pending. But these other bills are brought in without us even asking. These are "return gifts" from the Manuwadi (casteist) parties for us voting for them and carrying them on our shoulders.

A Call to Action
BC people! We have been deceived for decades. The parties we vote for are doing us injustice by not conducting a caste census, denying reservations, and providing no budget allocations. Our only weapon is the vote. We must teach these parties a lesson. Unless we unite and launch large-scale movements to demand a Caste Census, reservations in legislatures, removal of the 50% ceiling, and budget allocations, our demands will never be met.

BCs must unite! The time has come to teach the parties that have wronged us a lesson. We must realize that State Power (Rajyadhikaram) is the only solution to all our problems.
— T. Chiranjeevulu, Retired IAS & Chairman, BC Intellectuals Forum

Injustice Towards BCs Since Time Immemorial: Another Example - Women's Reservation Amendment Bill, 2026