Reservations in job

Subject: Polity

Context:

The Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to give government jobs only to “children” of the state is likely to trigger a fresh debate on the fundamental right to equality of citizens.

Concept:

• Article 16(2) of the Constitution states that “no citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against, in respect of any employment or office under the State.”
• The Supreme Court has, in its rulings since 1955, underlined the distinction between domicile status and place of birth.
• Domicile or status of residence is a fluid concept that can change from time to time, unlike place of birth. The place of birth is one of several grounds on which domicile status is conferred.