How is a policy such as reservation evaluated with reference to the constitutional principle of equality?

Correct answer: By asking whether it reasonably reduces historical disadvantage and promotes real equality

The correct answer is A. Equality does not always mean treating every person identically, because people may begin from unequal social and historical conditions. A reservation policy can be examined as a possible special measure to reduce disadvantage and improve access to education, employment, or representation. The important constitutional questions include its purpose, reasonable connection with equality, fairness, proper legal basis, and whether it supports genuine equal opportunity rather than arbitrary privilege. This is the difference between formal equality, which focuses on identical treatment, and substantive equality, which tries to remove barriers that make identical treatment unfair in practice. B has no connection with equality because reservation does not privatise all policies. C is false: Parliament remains an institution. D is false because the Election Commission is not converted into a court. Memory cue: equal opportunity may require support for those facing unequal starting conditions.