Supreme Court Allows Sub-Classifications in Reserved Categories

The Supreme Court ruled that states can create sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes categories to grant quotas to more underprivileged castes. The decision, made by a 6:1 majority, requires that states justify these sub-classifications with quantifiable and demonstrable data. The ruling revisits and overturns the 2004 E V Chinnaiah judgement.

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court on Thursday empowered states to make sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) categories for the purpose of granting quotas to uplift more underprivileged castes.

A seven-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, ruled by a 6:1 majority that such sub-classifications can be made to ensure that more backward castes inside these groups receive appropriate reservation benefits.

The bench, which included Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Mishra, emphasized that these sub-classifications must be supported by quantifiable and demonstrable data.

This verdict revisits and overturns the 2004 judgement in E V Chinnaiah vs. State of Andhra Pradesh, which held that SCs and STs are homogeneous groups that could not be further sub-categorized.

The bench delivered six separate judgments, with Justice Trivedi dissenting. The verdict emerged from 23 petitions, including one by the Punjab government, challenging a 2010 decision by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

(With inputs from agencies.)