THE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS OF RESERVATION: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF RAM SINGH v. UNION OF INDIA (2015) AND THE JAT RESERVATION DEBATE IN INDIA

This research paper by Ganesh Shrirang Satarkar (Nale), affiliated with the Department of Sociology, Central University of Haryana, India, offers an extensive socio-legal and constitutional examination of the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Ram Singh v. Union of India (2015) and its implications for the Jat reservation controversy. The study integrates multidisciplinary perspectives from Sociology, Public Policy, Constitutional Law, Backward Class Commissions, and Social Justice Jurisprudence. Drawing upon empirical evidence, historical context, and detailed reasoning from the Supreme Court judgment, the paper critically explores how “social backwardness” must be constitutionally determined, the role of the NCBC, the necessity of contemporaneous quantifiable data, and the prohibition against politically motivated inclusions in the OBC list. It further situates the Jat demand within broader national movements involving Marathas, Patels, Kapus, and Gujjars, highlighting recurring patterns of agrarian decline, political mobilization, and reservation politics. This comprehensive analysis contributes significantly to contemporary debates on affirmative action, equality jurisprudence, constitutional morality, and evidence-based policymaking in India.