Mayawati Urges Government to Nullify Supreme Court Ruling on SC/ST Sub-classification
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India] August 10: Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati has demanded that the government convene a special session of Parliament to bring a constitutional amendment bill. This bill aims to nullify the Supreme Court ruling that allows state governments to create sub-classifications within Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The Supreme Court also suggested creating a framework to identify the creamy layer among SCs and STs. Mayawati criticized both the BJP and Congress, stating that the ruling party should have extended the budget session of Parliament to address this issue. She noted that while the Congress highlighted the Constitution during its campaign, it has not addressed the Supreme Court’s verdict on sub-classification.
Mayawati referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with SC and ST MPs, where he assured them that there would be no creamy layer and sub-classification. She emphasized that this assurance can only be fulfilled if the Central Government brings a constitutional amendment in the current Parliament session to cancel the Supreme Court’s decision.
She added that the Parliament session was adjourned early, and the Prime Minister’s assurances seem hollow without action. Mayawati urged other political parties to clarify their positions on this issue, warning that the people will not forgive them if they remain silent.
The government stated on Friday that there is no provision for a creamy layer in SC/ST reservations in the Constitution. The Information and Broadcasting Minister mentioned that the union cabinet discussed the Supreme Court verdict and reaffirmed their commitment to the Constitution formed by BR Ambedkar.
Doubts Revealed
Mayawati -: Mayawati is an Indian politician and the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). She has been the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, one of India’s largest states.
Bahujan Samaj Party -: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is a political party in India that primarily represents the interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest judicial court in India. It makes important decisions on legal and constitutional matters.
SC/ST -: SC stands for Scheduled Castes and ST stands for Scheduled Tribes. These are groups of people in India who have historically faced social disadvantages and discrimination.
Sub-classification -: Sub-classification means dividing a larger group into smaller groups. In this context, it refers to dividing SCs and STs into smaller categories for reservations.
Parliament -: Parliament is the supreme legislative body in India. It consists of two houses: the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, one of the two major political parties in India. It is currently the ruling party in the central government.
Congress -: Congress, also known as the Indian National Congress, is one of the oldest political parties in India. It has played a major role in Indian politics since independence.
Creamy layer -: The creamy layer refers to the wealthier and more educated members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) who are not eligible for certain government reservations. However, this concept does not apply to SC/ST reservations.
Constitution -: The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the country. It lays down the framework for the political principles, procedures, and powers of government institutions.