Sub-categorisation of SCs and STs - VISION

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Friday, August 28, 2020

Sub-categorisation of SCs and STs

Why in news?
The Supreme Court reopened the debate on sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservations.
What is the story behind?
  • Punjab’s law applies a creamy layer for SCs, STs by giving preference to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs.
  • This is the case that reopened the debate.
  • The Supreme Court ruled in favour of giving preferential treatment to certain SCs over others to ensure equal representation of all SCs.
  • The case has been referred to a larger Bench to decide.
  • This is because, in 2005, the Court ruled that state governments had no power to create sub-categories of SCs for reservation.
  • The larger Bench will reconsider both judgments.
What is sub-categorisation of SCs?

  • States have argued that among the SCs, there are some that remain under-represented despite reservation in comparison to other SCs.
  • This inequality within the SCs is underlined in many reports.
  • This has been addressed by framing special quotas for the under-represented.
  • In Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Bihar, special quotas were introduced for the most vulnerable Dalits.
  • In 2000, the Andhra Pradesh legislature passed a law reorganising 57 SCs into sub-groups.
  • It split the 15% SC quota in educational institutions and government jobs in proportion to their population.
  • However, this law was declared unconstitutional in the 2005 Supreme Court ruling.
  • This ruling held that the states did not have the power to tinker with the Presidential list that identifies SCs and STs.
What is the Presidential list?
  • As per Article 341 of the Constitution, those castes notified by the President are called SCs and STs.
  • This is called the Presidential list of the SCs and STs.
  • A caste notified as SC in one state may not be a SC in another state.
  • No community has been specified as SC in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
What is the Supreme Court ruling regarding the list?




  • In the 2005 E V Chinnaiah case, the Court ruled that only the President has the power to notify the inclusion or exclusion of a caste as a SC.
  • It also said that the states cannot tinker with the list.
  • Andhra Pradesh had submitted that the law was enacted as states had the power to legislate on the subject of education.
  • It also added that the reservation in admission fell within its legislative domain.
  • However, the court rejected this argument.
  • The Constitution treats all SCs as a single homogeneous group.
What are the grounds for sub-categorisation?
  • The basis of special protections for SCs comes from the fact that all these castes suffered social inequity.
  • Untouchability was practised against all these castes irrespective of economic, education and other such factors.
  • However, the Court has engaged with the argument on whether the benefits of reservation have trickled down to the weakest of the weak.
  • 2018 ruling - The concept of “creamy layer" was applied to promote the SCs for the first time.
  • [This concept puts an income ceiling on those eligible for reservation.]
  • The Supreme Court upheld this application to SCs in 2018.
  • The central government has sought a review of the 2018 verdict and the case is currently pending.
  • Punjab’s law applies a creamy layer for SCs, STs in reverse - by giving preference to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs.
  • 2005 ruling - The court had held that special protection of SCs is based on the premise that all SCs must collectively enjoy the benefits of reservation regardless of inter­se inequality.
  • This is because the protection is not based on educational, economic or other such factors but solely on those who suffered untouchability.
  • The court also had held that merely giving preference does not amount to inclusion or exclusion of any caste in the list.
  • State’s argument - The states have argued that the classification is done for a certain reason and does not violate the right to equality.
  • The reason they have given is that the categorisation would achieve equitable representation of all SCs in government service.
What are the arguments against sub-categorisation?
  • Untouchability - The argument is that the test of social and educational backwardness cannot be applied to SCs and STs.
  • The special treatment is given to the SCs due to untouchability with which they suffer.
  • Vote-bank - The petitioner’s argument against allowing states to change the proportion of reservation is based on the fact that such decision would be taken to appease vote-banks.
  • A President’s list was envisaged to protect from such arbitrary change.
  • Jarnail Singh case - The court held that the objective of reservation is to ensure that all backward classes march hand in hand.
  • It added that this objective will not be ensured if only a select few get all the coveted services of the government.
  • In the current case, the court relied on this case’s ruling to buttress the point that social inequities exist even among SCs.
  • However, since that ruling is pending for review, the petitioners argued against relying on it.
  • The court ruled that the constitutional goal of social transformation cannot be achieved without taking into account changing social realities.

Source: The Indian Express