The case of the Assistant Loco Pilot recruitment highlights a deeply troubling flaw in the system—where merit often takes a backseat to other considerations, in this case, caste-based reservations. When a candidate scoring 72 marks is rejected while another with just 29 marks is selected, it raises an uncomfortable yet urgent question: are we compromising on competence in roles where public safety is at stake? The Assistant Loco Pilot is not just another government job—it involves operating locomotives, ensuring punctuality, and above all, safeguarding the lives of millions of passengers every single day. Such a role demands the highest levels of skill, alertness, and technical proficiency, which should logically be reflected in the selection process.
In a safety-critical job, the difference between competence and incompetence can be measured in human lives. Trains carry lakhs of commuters daily, and the loco pilot’s judgment in emergencies, ability to follow protocols, and knowledge of operations are non-negotiable. If recruitment tilts heavily towards meeting quotas rather than ensuring that only the most qualified are chosen, the risk is not theoretical—it is real and immediate. A system that allows someone with less than half the marks of another candidate to take on such a high-responsibility role needs to be revisited, not just for fairness, but for the safety of everyone who steps onto a train.
The debate here is not about abolishing affirmative action, but about its scope and application. While social justice and representation are vital in a diverse country like India, there must be clear boundaries when it comes to roles that directly impact human lives. In positions like Assistant Loco Pilot, pilots in aviation, or surgeons in hospitals, merit and competence must take precedence over every other factor. Caste should not decide who gets the job—merit should. If we fail to uphold this principle, we risk turning essential services into ticking time bombs, where political correctness outweighs public safety.
In a safety-critical job, the difference between competence and incompetence can be measured in human lives. Trains carry lakhs of commuters daily, and the loco pilot’s judgment in emergencies, ability to follow protocols, and knowledge of operations are non-negotiable. If recruitment tilts heavily towards meeting quotas rather than ensuring that only the most qualified are chosen, the risk is not theoretical—it is real and immediate. A system that allows someone with less than half the marks of another candidate to take on such a high-responsibility role needs to be revisited, not just for fairness, but for the safety of everyone who steps onto a train.
The debate here is not about abolishing affirmative action, but about its scope and application. While social justice and representation are vital in a diverse country like India, there must be clear boundaries when it comes to roles that directly impact human lives. In positions like Assistant Loco Pilot, pilots in aviation, or surgeons in hospitals, merit and competence must take precedence over every other factor. Caste should not decide who gets the job—merit should. If we fail to uphold this principle, we risk turning essential services into ticking time bombs, where political correctness outweighs public safety.
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