Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In a landmark decision, a seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has approved sub-classification within Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories, aiming to provide targeted reservations in jobs and education for the more marginalized groups among these communities.
The historic verdict was delivered by a 6:1 majority, with Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud leading the bench. Justice Bela Trivedi was the lone dissenter. This ruling overturns the 2004 judgment by a five-judge bench in the case of EV Chinnaiah vs State of Andhra Pradesh.
During the proceedings, the central government expressed support for sub-classification within SC/ST categories. Chief Justice Chandrachud distinguished between “sub-classification” and “sub-categorisation,” emphasizing that states may need to sub-categorize reserved communities to ensure that benefits reach the most backward groups.
“There are six opinions. Mine is for Justice Manoj Misra and me. A majority of us has overruled the EV Chinnaiah verdict and we hold that sub-classification is permitted. Justice Bela Trivedi has dissented,” stated Chief Justice Chandrachud.
He further elaborated, “Members of SC/ST categories often struggle to advance due to systemic discrimination. Article 14 allows for sub-classification of castes. Historical evidence shows that depressed classes are not a homogeneous group.”
Justice BR Gavai highlighted a speech by Dr. BR Ambedkar in 1949, stating, “Dr. Ambedkar noted that without social democracy, political democracy is futile.” Justice Gavai added, “The hardships and backwardness experienced by some Scheduled Castes vary by caste. The EV Chinnaiah judgment was incorrect. While some argue that political parties might exploit sub-caste reservations for political gain, I disagree. The ultimate goal is to achieve genuine equality.”
This verdict paves the way for more nuanced and effective reservation policies, addressing the unique challenges faced by different groups within the broader SC/ST categories.
