In a meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with a delegation of BJP Members of Parliament representing Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). During the discussion, Modi reiterated the government’s strong commitment to advancing the welfare and empowerment of these communities.
The delegation presented a memorandum addressing the recent Supreme Court observation regarding the “creamy layer” principle for SCs and STs. This principle pertains to the eligibility criteria for affirmative action benefits.
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Modi shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Met a delegation of SC/ST MPs today. Reiterated our commitment and resolve for the welfare and empowerment of the SC/ST communities.”
On August 1, the Supreme Court proposed applying the “creamy layer” principle to SCs and STs, a concept previously used for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to exclude the more affluent members from receiving certain benefits. This suggestion comes as part of a broader examination by a 7-judge Constitution Bench on whether sub-classification within reserved category groups can be constitutionally permissible.
In a landmark 6:1 decision, the Bench overturned its 2004 ruling, which had previously opposed preferential treatment for certain sub-castes within the SCs. This new ruling opens the door for potential reclassification and revised policies affecting affirmative action.
