Judiciary is anti-Backward Caste  

Bangalore: L.G. Havanur, former Law Minister who had headed the first Karnataka Backward Classes Commission, has criticised the role of the Judiciary in dealing with cases challenging reservations for the other backward classes (OBCs). Speaking at the release of his book, Backward Classes, here Havanur said he had brought out the book to serve as a guide to the Supreme Court Bench, hearing the petitions challenging the implementation of the Mandal Commission report. Present at the function were some of the judges of the Karnataka High Court. Havanur said that he had often been critical of the judges and the judiciary though he had faith in them. The courts had not been consistent in defining the backward classes and in their interpretation of fundamental rights and the power of the executive. The courts had made much of the definition of BCs, which could be obtained with ease from the Constitution. He alleged that there was a subtle form of casteism in the High Court and the Supreme Court judgements on backward classes from the case of Champakam Dorairajan Vs. the State of Madras (1950) up to Rangachari’s case (1962), in which the Late Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar changed the attitude of the Court. In those 12 years there was none in the judiciary to protect the poor. A book written by him in 1963 helped in changing the attitude of the courts towards the BCs. (Hindu, Jan. 11)