The Supreme Court’s seven-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, has concluded its three-day hearing on sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for more equitable reservations. The bench discussed the complexities of ensuring adequate representation for the most backward within these groups, potentially reshaping India’s social justice landscape.
A Constitution bench at India’s Supreme Court is deliberating on the constitutional validity of sub-classifying Scheduled Castes and Tribes for reservation benefits. The Central Government has expressed support for sub-categorization, emphasizing the need for equitable distribution. This pivotal issue has wide-ranging implications for social justice and could reshape India’s reservation policies.
The Kerala government submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, stating it had no plans to conduct a caste survey and emphasized the responsibility of the Central government in conducting such surveys. The government refuted allegations of intentional disobedience and highlighted the challenges in utilizing socio-economic data for policymaking. This case has significant implications for the identification and support of backward classes in Kerala.