Return of equality in recruitment: High Court's strictness on socio-economic bonus marks

Social justice has an important place in the Indian administrative structure, but in its name, steps are taken from time to time that clash with the spirit of equality.

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The policy of giving 10 additional marks on socio-economic basis by the Haryana government in 2019 was one such decision. This policy gave benefits to those candidates who are either orphans, sons of widowed mothers, no government job in the family, etc. Although this policy was motivated by sympathy, it deeply hurt the principle of merit. Many deserving candidates who had performed excellently in the examination were left out due to this "bonus system".

The voice of struggle: which could not be heard even after shouting loudly

Then a student is deprived of selection despite scoring 90 out of 90 marks, it is not just the failure of the exam, it is the failure of the system. And when this irregularity is clearly visible but everyone is silent — then this silence is also a partner in the crime. At that time, many did not raise questions, but some people raised their voice. I tore my voice by speaking that this socio-economic bonus marks system is unconstitutional, and this decision will be reversed one day — and on that day thousands of lives will be affected. But at that time the politics of vote bank blinded everyone's eyes.

“Those who were selected were tortured, and so were those who weren't - everyone was punished!”

I was the first to write editorials on this policy. I faced opposition, but kept speaking. Because I knew that this decision will drown everyone. Today, when the court has stayed it, those children have won who fought for years after being denied the right to a job. But what is the fault of those who were selected and serving? They too were sacrificed.