The Constitution of India assures us—all citizens are equal. But in reality, this promise fades, especially in the fields of education and the race for employment. On one hand, there’s corruption, on the other, reservation—and in between, genuine merit and hard work get crushed.Teacher Recruitment Scam in West Bengal: A Deep Wound
In a recent verdict, the Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the appointment of nearly 25,000 teaching and non-teaching staff recruited through the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) in the 2016 recruitment process. The reason? Rampant corruption in the recruitment process.
Investigations unearthed shocking details—bribes, tampered ranks, and even candidates getting jobs despite submitting blank answer sheets. Some were appointed without even undergoing proper examinations. Following the court’s directive, many appointment letters have been cancelled, revealing a deep-rooted nexus of political and administrative corruption.
This scandal not only devastated innocent job-seekers but also shattered public trust in the education system. Aspirants who worked day and night to excel in exams were denied jobs simply because they lacked political connections or the money to bribe. Is this the future of our education system?
The Paradox of Reservation: Equality or Discrimination?
While the intent behind reservation policies was to uplift historically disadvantaged communities, in reality, it often results in candidates with relatively lower qualifications being selected—leaving many deserving general category candidates behind.
Many now view this system not as a symbol of ‘equality’ but as a form of institutional bias. While it does create opportunities to address historical injustices, it sometimes overshadows merit—leading to growing frustration among other sections of society.
EWS Quota: Not a Universal Solution
The 10% EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation introduced in 2019 aimed to address economic disparity regardless of caste. While it brought a glimmer of hope to many poor families from the general category, its scope remains limited. Many eligible candidates miss out due to complex documentation requirements.
Notably, this policy excludes SC, ST, and OBC candidates, thereby creating a new form of exclusion, as some critics point out.
Where Does Merit Stand?
Today, the value of merit and hard work is steadily diminishing in India’s education system. On one side, jobs can be bought through bribes; on the other, reservation divides opportunities based on caste and class.
Caught in between are those students who neither take advantage of illegal means, nor belong to a reserved category, nor have any quota to fall back on despite financial struggles. For them, building a future purely on merit is becoming an increasingly uphill battle.
What Could Be the Solution?
1) The reservation policy needs to be re-evaluated based not just on social identity, but on real-life economic conditions.
2) Strong, swift, and transparent action against corruption is essential.
3) A certain percentage of seats should be reserved strictly based on merit, to ensure talent is not insulted.
4) An independent and autonomous recruitment body must be established, free from political or administrative interference.
Conclusion
We live in a society where a meritorious student is unsure—even with top scores, will they land a job? Perhaps not, because they lack the money to bribe or do not fall under a reserved category.
This conflict between corruption and social division in recruitment processes raises serious questions about the balance between social justice and merit in India’s education and employment landscape.
If equality is enshrined in the Constitution, when will it become a reality in practice? It’s time we start asking this question.