SC, ST Sub-Quotas Get Supreme Court Nod: Marginalised Groups To Receive Separate Reservations

A decision by a seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has paved the way for sub-classification within Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories to ensure that reservations in jobs and education reach the most marginalised among these communities.

The ruling was passed by a 6:1 majority, with Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud leading the bench. Justice Bela Trivedi was the sole dissenter.

The bench's decision overturns a 2004 judgment by a five-judge Constitution bench in the case of EV Chinnaiah vs State of Andhra Pradesh. The court ruled that sub-classification is permissible, a move that aligns with the Centre's stance in favor of such measures.

The Chief Justice distinguished between "sub-classification" and "sub-categorisation," stating that sub-categorisation might be necessary to ensure that the benefits of reservations effectively reach more disadvantaged groups within the SC/ST categories.

In his opinion, Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked, "The members of SC/ST categories are not often able to climb up the ladder due to the systemic discrimination they face. Article 14 permits sub-classification of caste," adding that "Historical evidence shows that depressed classes were not a homogenous class."

Justice BR Gavai, in his judgment, highlighted the ongoing struggles within these communities, referencing Dr. BR Ambedkar's 1949 speech: "I have referred to a speech of Dr BR Ambedkar in 1949 where he said that unless we have social democracy there is no use of political democracy."

Justice Gavai further argued that the varying degrees of hardship and backwardness among different SC groups justify sub-classification, highlighting that "EV Chinnaiah was wrongly decided."

He also dismissed concerns that sub-classification could be manipulated for political gain, stating, "It was argued that a party can give reservation to a sub-caste to gain political mileage, but I do not agree with this. The ultimate objective would be to realise real equality."