Gujarat HC judge removes quota remarks

Gujarat High Court judge, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, against whom Rajya Sabha MPs have submitted a motion on impeachment for his "unconstitutional" remarks on reservation, has removed his allegedly objectionable remarks

Justice Pardiwala had made the remarks while refusing to remove the sedition charges against Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PASS) convener Hardik Patel.

In an observation during the hearing, he had said: "If I am asked by anyone to name two things, which has destroyed this country or rather, has not allowed the country, to progress in the right direction, then the same is - Reservation and Corruption. It is very shameful for any citizen of this country to ask for reservation after 65 years of independence. When our Constitution was framed, it was understood that the reservation would remain for a period of 10 years, but unfortunately, it has continued even after 65 years of independence. The biggest threats, today, for the country is corruption."

"The countrymen should rise and fight against corruption at all levels, rather than shedding blood and indulging in violence for the reservation," the judge said, "adding that the reservation has only played the role of an amoeboid monster sowing seeds of discord amongst the people.

"The importance of merit, in any society, cannot be understated. The merit stands for a positive goal and when looked at instrumentally, stands for 'rewarding those actions that are considered good'. Then, this instrumental nature of merit that should be given importance - emphasizing on and rewarding merit is a means towards achieving what is regarded as good in the society. The parody of the situation is that India must be the only country wherein some of the citizens crave to be called backward," he remarked.

However, he has now removed these remarks from the order.