Supreme Court Staff Recruitment and Promotions: Apex Court Implements SC-ST Reservation Policy

The Supreme Court of India has taken a significant step towards promoting social justice by implementing a reservation policy for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in non-judicial staff recruitment and promotions. This marks the first instance of such a policy being adopted by the apex court, aligning it with other public institutions and several High Courts.

On June 24, 2025, a circular was issued to all Supreme Court staff detailing the new reservation policy, which became effective from June 23, 2025. The policy reserves 15% of posts for SC candidates and 7.5% for ST candidates. It applies exclusively to administrative and support staff roles, excluding judges. Affected positions include Registrar, Senior Personal Assistant, Assistant Librarian, Junior Court Assistant, Junior Court Attendant, Chamber Attendant, among others.

SC-ST Reservation Policy Details

The model reservation roster and register have been uploaded to the court's internal digital portal, Supnet. This ensures transparency and accessibility for all court staff. Employees are encouraged to review the roster and report any discrepancies to the Registrar for immediate correction.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud's successor, CJI Justice Gavai, known for his dedication to inclusivity, played a crucial role in finalising this historic measure. CJI Gavai stated, "If SC-ST reservations are already in place in other government institutions and many High Courts, why should the Supreme Court be an exception? Our judgments have long supported affirmative action; it's time we reflect that principle in our administration."

Roles Covered Under New Policy

The reservation policy covers various administrative and technical roles such as Senior Personal Assistant, Assistant Librarian, Junior Court Assistant cum Junior Programmer, Junior Court Attendant, Chamber Attendant. The model roster provides clear guidelines for implementing the reservation quota in direct recruitment processes for these positions.