Supreme Court Judgments
The Supreme Court has allowed States to classify Scheduled Castes (SCs) into groups for preferential treatment.
The ruling was passed by a 6:1 majority, rejecting the notion that SCs are a single, uniform class
The Court overturned the 2005 E.V. Chinnaiah vs AP ruling, which had invalidated Andhra Pradesh’s SC classification law.
The 2005 judgment had stated that only Parliament could modify the SC list, and States could not alter it.
This 2005 judgment was cited by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to strike down a preferential sub-quota for Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs within the SC quota.
Recognition of Diversity
The Court recognized that SCs are not a homogenous group and have varying degrees of backwardness.
States can now identify weaker sections within SCs and provide targeted benefits.
Creamy layer
Four judges supported the idea of excluding the “creamy layer” among SCs from reservation benefits.
The criteria for the creamy layer among SCs may differ from those used for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
The exclusion of more advanced sections within SCs is not currently implemented and remains a potential future change
Focus
The primary focus should be on ensuring the most marginalized SCs receive adequate representation and benefits.
Current opinions on excluding the creamy layer are non-binding and may evolve over time.
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