'We'll file review petition against SC/ST subclassification verdict': Chirag Paswan
Union Minister Chirag Paswan has declared that the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will submit a review petition against the Supreme Court's recent verdict on subclassification within the reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Paswan voiced his disagreement with the court's view on creamy layer among SCs and STs, stating that untouchability, not economic or educational status, is the basis for SC reservation.
Paswan disagrees with Supreme Court's observation
"We disagree with the observation of the Supreme Court and we have registered this disagreement prominently," the former actor said. He further clarified that "the base of the Scheduled Caste is untouchability. It does not have an educational or economic basis. In such a situation, there can be no provision of creamy layer in it, reservation within the reservation is not correct."
Paswan cites ongoing discrimination, plans legal action
Paswan highlighted the continuing discrimination based on untouchability, citing instances of Dalit youth being barred from riding a mare and temples being cleansed after visits from high-ranking individuals from these communities. "There are many such big names, who are on high posts, but even after they go to the temple, the temple is washed with Ganga water, so even today discrimination takes place based on untouchability," he said.
Supreme Court's landmark ruling on SC/ST subclassification
The Supreme Court's groundbreaking decision was delivered by a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. The court ruled by a majority judgement of 6:1 that sub-classification within the SCs and STs reservation is permissible. This ruling overturned an earlier judgement in the EV Chinnaiah case, which stated that sub-classification was not permissible because SC/STs form homogeneous classes.
Justice Bela M. Trivedi dissents from majority judgement
Justice Bela M. Trivedi was the only dissenting voice on the bench, disagreeing with the majority judgement that sub-classification within SCs and STs is permissible. She had upheld the five-judge constitution bench decision in E.V. Chinniah vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (2005), which ruled out any creamy layer screening among Dalit or tribal people.
