Manipur, Feb. 9 -- We have been talking about the need for incorporating a sub-class or creamy layer among the scheduled tribes (ST) and scheduled castes (SC) in terms of reservation and we are glad that the apex court is seized of the matter. We would say, the debate is long overdue. What has been missing from the general debate is how long the reservation system is going to continue. It simply cannot go on forever.

In fact, there has to be a review of the constitutional status every ten years and in that the question of whether the aims and objectives of providing reservation and other benefits has been achieved or not are assessed and whether the special facilities have had the desired effect are studied. More than three decades back ...