CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on November 9

THE CPI(M) shares the widespread concern over the split judgment of the Supreme Court on reservation for economically weaker sections. The CPI(M) is not opposed to reservation for EWS in education and jobs, per se. But the Supreme Court order raises certain major questions which need to addressed.

CPI(M) has always questioned the criteria to define EWS. The eligibility for accessing reservation to EWS quota has fixed a ceiling of almost Rs 8 lakh per annum and 5 acres of agricultural land, a residential flat of 1000 square feet and a residential plot of 100 square yards in a notified municipality. With the minimum wage and tax free ceiling pegged at a much lower level, these criteria will allow a large population who are not really poor and destitute to access the benefits of this reservation. In effect, this discriminates against the poorest of the poor. It is, therefore, imperative for the government to include this concern in its policy of reservation of EWS.