In a significant ruling on Thursday, the Supreme Court delivered a 6:1 verdict permitting the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to facilitate separate quotas for the more marginalised members within these backward communities.
The Constitution bench, chaired by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, overturned a 2004 decision which had deemed that state governments lacked the authority to create sub-categories of SCs for the purpose of reservation. Justice Bela Trivedi expressed her dissenting opinion on the matter.
The court, thus, upheld the Punjab Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes Act, 2006, and the Tamil Nadu Arunthathiyars Act. Holding that quota within quota was not against quality, the CJI Chandrachud said members of SC/ST were not often able to climb up the ladder due to the systemic discrimination faced.
“Sub-classification does not violate the principle of equality enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution,” the top court said.
However, the Supreme Court said the basis of subclassification in SCs and STs would have to be justified by quantifiable and demonstrable data by the states.
“States cannot act on its whims or political expediency and its decision is amenable to judicial review,” CJI Chandrachud said.
Concurring with the majority judgement, Justice BR Gavai said it was the state’s duty to give preferential treatment to the more backward communities.
“Only a few people within the category of SC/ST are enjoying the reservations. The ground realities cannot be denied and there are categories within the SC/STs which have faced more oppression for centuries,” Justice Gavai said.
However, Justice Gavai said states must bring out a policy to identify creamy layers among the SC and ST categoriesbefore granting subclassification.
“This is the only way to gain true equality,” he said. Echoing his view, Justice Vikram Nath said the creamy layer principle applied to the SCs just like it was applicable to the OBCs.
In her dissenting verdict, Justice Bela Trivedi said subclassification of SCs/STs by states was contrary to Article 341 of the Constitution. Article 341 confers the President the right to prepare the list of SC/STs.
Justice Trivedi said Article 341 was enacted to prevent political factors playing a role in the SC/ST list.
“Castes can be included or excluded from the Presidential list only by a law enacted by Parliament. Subclassification will amount to tinkering of the Presidential list,” Justice Trivedi said.
“Any preferential treatment for a sub-class within the Presidential list will lead to deprivation of the benefits of the other classes within the same category,” she further said.
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