‘Reiterated commitment for welfare of SC, ST communities: PM Modi after meeting BJP MPs

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with a delegation of SC and ST MPs on Friday regarding the Supreme Court’s decision that the creamy layer of SC and ST be excluded from the reservation.

“Met a delegation of SC/ST MPs today. Reiterated our commitment and resolve for the welfare and empowerment of the SC/ST communities,” the Prime Minister posted on X.

Earlier, after meeting with PM Modi, BJP MP Prof Sikander Kumar said that PM Modi has assured them that the government will work in favor of the MPs. “A few days ago, the Supreme Court gave its decision on SC, ST reservation. A delegation comprising around 100 MPs from both Houses met PM Modi today and raised their concerns. The PM heard all MPs and assured us that the government will work in favour of the MPs,” he said.

BJP MP Faggan Singh Kulaste said that the Prime Minister said that this should not be implemented. “We told the PM that the SC decision on (identifying ) creamy layer from SCs and STs (and their exclusion from reservation benefits) should not be implemented. The PM also said that this should not be implemented”, he said.

The Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling on August 1, ruled that states have the power to sub-classify SCs and STs and said that the authority concerned, while deciding if the class is adequately represented, must calculate adequacy based on effective and not quantitative representation.

The top court ruled by a majority judgement of 6:1, that sub-classification within the SCs and STs reservation is permissible. As many as six separate opinions were delivered in the case. The judgement was delivered by the seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, which overruled earlier judgement in the EV Chinnaiah matter, which had held that sub-classification was not permissible because SC/STs form homogenous classes.

Besides CJI Chandrachud, other judges on the bench were Justices B R Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Sharma. Justice B R Gavai suggested that the state evolve a policy for identifying the creamy layer, even from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to exclude them from the benefit of affirmative action.

Justice Bela M. Trivedi, in a dissenting opinion, said that she disagreed with the majority judgement that sub-classification within the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes is permissible. (ANI)