Prime Minister meets a delegation of SC/ST MPs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with a delegation of SC/ST MPs to discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling on excluding the creamy layer of SC/ST communities from reservation benefits.

Prime Minister Modi posted on X, “Met a delegation of SC/ST MPs today. Reiterated our commitment and resolve for the welfare and empowerment of the SC/ST communities.”

Following the meeting, BJP MP Prof. (Dr.) Sikander Kumar reported that PM Modi assured the MPs that the government would support their interests. BJP MP Faggan Singh Kulaste added that the Prime Minister agreed that the Supreme Court’s decision should not be implemented.

On August 1, the Supreme Court ruled that states have the authority to sub-classify SCs and STs. The judgment, delivered by a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, affirmed that sub-classification within SCs and STs is permissible. The bench also included Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M. Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Sharma.

Justice BR Gavai suggested that states should create policies to identify the creamy layer within SC/ST communities to exclude them from affirmative action benefits. However, Justice Bela M. Trivedi dissented, opposing the majority judgment on sub-classification.