Following a recent Supreme Court ruling on sub-quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), the Centre has reiterated that there is no provision for a “creamy layer” in SC-ST reservations as per the Constitution.
Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified this stance after a cabinet meeting, asserting the National Democratic Alliance or NDA Government remains committed to adhering to the constitutional provisions as outlined by BR Ambedkar.
Vaishnaw noted that the cabinet’s position reflects a thorough discussion of the Supreme Court’s judgment, which suggested certain modifications to SC-ST reservation policies. The minister asserted that any reservation for SCs and STs should strictly follow constitutional guidelines, which do not include a creamy layer provision.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal addressed concerns raised by the Opposition, accusing them of misleading the public about the Supreme Court’s observations. Meghwal stressed that the notion of a creamy layer is merely an observation by a Supreme Court judge and not part of the court’s final decision.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met with a delegation of SC/ST MPs, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the welfare and empowerment of these communities. The PM’s assurance came in response to concerns expressed by MPs regarding the Supreme Court’s observations.
The Supreme Court’s recent verdict, delivered by a seven-judge constitution Bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, allows States to create sub-classifications within SCs and STs for better targeting of quotas. This decision, based on a 6:1 majority, mandates that such sub-classifications must be supported by quantifiable data, ensuring that States cannot make arbitrary decisions.
In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, BJP MPs Sikander Kumar and Faggan Singh Kulaste expressed concerns and urged that the observations on creamy layer not be implemented. The delegation that met the PM submitted a memorandum requesting that the court’s observations be disregarded in the context of creamy layer discussions.
