Political parties react to SC ruling on SC, ST sub-categorisation

BJP leaders view verdict as opportunity to boost Dalit outreach

The Supreme Court’s landmark judgement allowing states to create sub-categorisation within the SCs and STs has drawn sharp reactions from political parties, mainly from the ruling BJP-led NDA grouping.

A seven-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, on Thursday held by a 6:1 majority that further sub-classification of SCs and STs by states can be permitted to ensure quotas for castes that are more backward among them.

Four out of the six judges who agreed that states are empowered to make sub-classifications wrote in their separate judgments that those in the creamy layer must be excluded from enjoying the benefits of reservation. States must evolve a policy for identifying the creamy layer even among the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and deny them the benefit of reservation, Supreme Court judge Justice B R Gavai said.

While the BJP has not taken a categorical stand at the national level on the Supreme Court’s decision, several of its leaders are of the view that the verdict can help the party boost its outreach to the more disadvantaged sections of Dalits.