India 2018

406 India 2018
Reservation of Seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Our Constitution makers were fully conscious of the fact that the Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes had been an oppressed and under-privileged class
in our society over the centuries and they deserved a special dispensation so
that their condition may be vastly improved. For this purpose, several special
provisions were incorporated in our Constitution. One such provision related
to the reservation of seats for these communities in Lok Sabha and state
legislative assemblies. This provision found place in Articles 330 and 332 of the
Constitution. Similarly, they were also sensitive of the difficulties and problems
which were likely to be faced by the persons belonging to Anglo Indian
community in the country. Consequently, adequate safeguards were provided
for them in our Constitution by giving representation to this small section of
the society, under Article 331 of the Constitution by way of nomination of two
persons of that community in the House of the People by the President.
Likewise, provision for nomination of one member each by the Governor,
wherever necessary, belonging to this community in the state legislative
assemblies was also incorporated. Initially, the aforesaid provisions were made
only for a period of ten years from the commencement of the Constitution.
Although several steps have been initiated by the Government from time to
time for improving the socio economic status of the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes, yet they are still far behind other communities. Even in the
political field, they are not yet able to come up and get themselves elected to
the representative bodies on their own in adequate numbers. Similarly, there
are still a small section of Anglo Indians which need representation in the elected
bodies. Consequently, the provision initially made for a period of ten years has
been extended from time to time. Recently, through the Constitution (One
Hundred Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2009 extension of the period for a further ten
years has been passed by both the Houses of Parliament and received the assent
of the President in January, 2010. The said Bill was enacted as the Constitution
(Ninety-fifth Amendment) Act, 2009.