New Delhi: Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Ramdas Athawale have voiced strong opposition to the recent Supreme Court judgment allowing states to create sub-groups within the Scheduled Castes (SC) category for a share of the 15 percent reservation quota. Both leaders argue that this move undermines the principle of caste-based reservation and fails to address the core issues of social marginalization.
Chirag Paswan, leader of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), announced that his party would appeal the Supreme Court’s ruling. He contends that the judgment allows for the introduction of the creamy layer concept within the SC reservation, which he believes will dilute the purpose of uplifting the most marginalized sections within the SC community. “Our party will appeal to the apex court to review its recent judgment allowing sub-groups within the 15 percent SC quota,” Paswan said. “The creamy layer cannot be allowed in the SC quota. Allowing sub-groups within the SC quota will not serve the purpose of uplifting the socially marginalized segment that has been a victim of untouchability.”
Paswan, who represents Hajipur, criticized the judgment for failing to address the ongoing issue of untouchability, which he argues affects even well-educated and financially stable individuals from SC communities. “Even those Scheduled Caste individuals from well-to-do families and with access to education face untouchability. Therefore, allowing sub-groups within SC is not justified,” he asserted. Paswan’s stance reflects his concern that the judgment could further entrench divisions within the SC community rather than promote genuine social advancement.
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Paswan also indicated support for a caste census, echoing the demands of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. However, Paswan added that the findings of such a census “must not be made public,” suggesting a preference for privacy and careful handling of sensitive data.
Union minister Ramdas Athawale, head of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), also opposed the judgment’s implications, particularly the potential application of the creamy layer criteria to SC and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations. Athawale, a member of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), acknowledged that while the Supreme Court’s ruling could ensure fairness by prioritizing the most disadvantaged within the SC and ST communities, his party would resist any introduction of the creamy layer concept. “The reservation for SCs/STs is based on caste. The RPI (A) will strongly oppose any move to apply the criteria of creamy layer to reservation for SCs and STs,” Athawale stated. He further advocated for similar sub-classifications for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and general category members to ensure equitable distribution of benefits.
The Supreme Court’s decision, announced on Thursday, permits states to sub-categorize castes within the Scheduled Castes based on socio-economic backwardness and the degree of under-representation in government jobs. The ruling aims to ensure that the 15 percent SC quota benefits those who are most backward within the SC community. The Court also directed that governments develop criteria to exclude the ‘creamy layer’ among SCs and STs from reservation benefits, emphasizing that such sub-classifications should be based on empirical, quantifiable data rather than political or executive whims.
The judgment has stirred significant political debate, with allies of the NDA challenging the ruling’s implications and advocating for a more nuanced approach to caste-based reservations. As political leaders continue to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision, the discussion around caste-based reservations and their implementation remains a key issue in Indian politics.
