The Madras High Court has ruled that denying Scheduled Caste members access to public burial or cremation grounds amounts to practising untouchability under Article 17 of the Constitution. The Court said such acts attract criminal action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to respond to pleas seeking clear criteria for excluding the creamy layer among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from reservation benefits. The petitions rely on the 2024 Constitution Bench verdict allowing sub-classification within SCs and STs to ensure benefits reach the most backward groups.
