LJP for amendment on SC/ST creamy layer issue

New Delhi, Oct 25: Perturbed over the Supreme Court's judgement of barring creamy layer among the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes from reservation, the Lok Janshakti Party today demanded that the government should bring a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of creamy layer among the SC/ST.

LJP President and Union Minister for chemical, fertilizers and steel Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters here that the central committee of the party wants the government to amend the constitution as it had done to retain reservation in promotion for SC/ST after the Apex Court verdic on Mandal Commission.

Pointing out that a nine-judge constitution bench at that time had opined that their order for creamy layer was meant for OBCs and not for SC/ST, he said that now a five judge bench had changed it which could affect the ''meritorious'' among the SC/ST. Moreover, the SC/ST were given reservation on the basis of social backwardness and there was no economic criteria involved and since the court had changed it the government should rectify the situation and clear the gaps in the constitution.

Asked whether the government is likely to adopt a confrontationist attitude towards the Supreme Court on the issue of creamy layer, Mr Paswan said his party wanted Parliament to legislate in order to clear the grey areas in the Constitution and it did not mean adopting a confrontationist attitude.

However, asked why the party which always scoffed on the issue of ''merit in admission or appointments'' was now talking of the talented and meritorious among SC/STs, Mr Paswan said though personally he was not in favour of his son getting the reservation benefit, but he had to cater to his constituency of SC/ST.

He also demanded a National Judicial Service Commission on the lines of UPSC with adequate representation to SC/ST and OBC for filling up posts in higher judiciary. He also demanded more representation of SC/ST in higher judiciary.

The LJP leader also demanded that the Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution should be made mandatory for the states to make necessary rule to protect the rights of SC/STs.

UNI