New Delhi, Aug 1:    The Supreme Court of India on Thursday ruled that states are permitted to sub-classify Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to provide additional quotas for the most disadvantaged groups within these categories. This decision, made by a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, was reached by a 6-1 majority and allows states to better target and uplift the more underprivileged sections within SCs and STs.

The ruling enables states to create sub-categories within SCs and STs to allocate quotas more effectively. This overturns the 2004 EV Chinnaiah vs. State of Andhra Pradesh decision, which had previously held that SCs and STs could not be further sub-classified.

Chief Justice Chandrachud noted that even within SCs and STs, the most marginalized individuals often face unique challenges that are not addressed by mere representation. He stressed that sub-classification will help ensure that those who have faced the greatest discrimination benefit from the 15% reservation.

Justice BR Gavai supported the decision, calling for states to identify and exclude the ‘creamy layer’ within SCs and STs from reservation benefits to ensure fairness. The judgment indicates that such sub-classifications should be based on empirical data regarding the representation of different sub-groups in government jobs and educational institutions.

Justice Vikram Nath echoed this sentiment, asserting that the creamy layer principle should also apply to SCs and STs. Justice Pankaj Mithal suggested that reservation benefits should be limited to the first generation of beneficiaries, with later generations potentially ineligible if the initial beneficiaries have attained higher status.

Justice Bela M. Trivedi dissented, arguing that states do not have the authority to further sub-classify SCs and STs without specific legislative or executive power.

The Supreme Court clarified that no SC or ST caste can be completely excluded from reservation benefits, even as states implement sub-classifications to address disparities in representation.

The top court was hearing references to revisit a five-judge constitution bench judgment from 2004 in the case of EV Chinnaiah vs. State of Andhra Pradesh, which had deemed SCs and STs as homogenous groups, and has now overturned it to allow states to sub-classify these categories for more nuanced quota allocation.