New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has ruled that further sub-classifications can be made into the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe quota. The top court further observed that states empowered to make sub-classifications in SC, ST for quota.
The verdict in the case was delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. As per the latest reports, Justices B R Gavai, Vikram Nath, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra and Satish C Sharma and the CJI upheld the decision. Justice Bela M Trivedi dissented.
The Union government submitted that it was in favour of the sub-classifications among SCs and STs.
The Supreme Court was reviewing the constitutional validity of Section 4(5) of the Punjab Act, which depends on whether sub-classifications can be made within the Scheduled Castes or Tribes or if they should be treated as homogenous groups.
A central issue was whether it is permissible to provide further reservation to the weakest members of these communities, particularly when the benefits of reservation have not adequately trickled down to the most disadvantaged. The court noted disparities where economically sound groups within SC/ST communities have predominantly enjoyed the benefits of reservation, leaving the weakest segments marginalised.
