Historical Context and Rationale
Before independence, the British introduced the concept of ‘separate electorates’ to address issues of representation for certain communities. However, this approach was deemed inadequate by many members of the Constituent Assembly, leading to the adoption of reserved constituencies instead.
Under this system, while all voters in a constituency retain the right to vote, only candidates belonging to specific communities or social groups are eligible to contest from reserved seats.
Class 11 School Polity Chapter 2: Reservation in Constituencies
In a democracy, fair representation of all social groups is essential for upholding the principles of equality and justice. However, in the context of India’s diverse social fabric, achieving this representation poses unique challenges.
The reservation of constituencies emerges as a mechanism to address these challenges and ensure the participation of marginalized communities in the electoral process.