Amir Hyder Khan In a pathbreaking judgement from the Supreme Court of India on 1 August 2024, the 7-judge constitutional bench led by Chief Justice of IndiaDr Justice D Y Chandrachud had stated that the sub-classification the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) was permissible. This judgment was welcomed by several political parties and …
Sub-categorisation of SCs and STs: Key Issues
Jatin Mathur In a 6:1 landmark verdict, the Supreme Court yesterday allowed the sub-categorisation of scheduled castes in reservations, allowing wider protection for underrepresented groups. A seven-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has thus ruled on whether sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is permissible for the purpose of …
Killing with Kindness: The Apex Judiciary
Dr. Bhushan Amol Darkase Background: [1] In 1975, the Punjab government issued a notification sub-classifying 25% of Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations into two categories, reserving half of these seats for Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs. This notification remained in force for nearly 31 years until it faced legal hurdles in 2004. In 2004, the Supreme Court’s …
Challenging ‘De-Reservation’ and Reevaluating ‘Merit’: On Brahmanical Vocabulary and Praxis of Exclusion
Iniyavan M & Lalitha M “Those responsible for implementing the policy of Reservation must undoubtedly understand that “Reservation is neither a policy matter, a political gimmick nor a matter of Charity. It is a Constitutional Obligation” – Dr B. R Ambedkar In the line of policies aimed at systematic and sustained remoulding of the reservation policy …
Trading pearls for sand: BJP and the Panchamasali reservation struggle
Trading pearls for sand[i]: BJP and the Panchamasali reservation struggle ಛಲಬೇಕುಶರಣಂಗೆ, ಪರಧನವನೊಲ್ಲೆನೆಂಬ;ಛಲಬೇಕುಶರಣಂಗೆ, ಪರಸತಿಯನೊಲ್ಲೆನೆಂಬ;ಛಲಬೇಕುಶರಣಂಗೆ, ಪರದೈವವನೊಲ್ಲೆನೆಂಬ;ಛಲಬೇಕುಶರಣಂಗೆ, ಲಿಂಗಜಂಗಮಒಂದೇಎಂಬ;ಛಲಬೇಕುಶರಣಂಗೆ, ಪ್ರಸಾದದಿಟವೆಂಬ;ಛಲವಿಲ್ಲದವರಮೆಚ್ಚನಮ್ಮಕೂಡಲಸಂಗಮದೇವ. Fortitude is needed for the Sharana (devotee) to declare: “I don’t want another’s wealth” Fortitude is needed for the Sharana to declare: “I don’t desire another’s wife” Fortitude is needed for the Sharana to declare: “I will not believe …
Reservation is not a Poverty Alleviation Program but a Weapon for Social Justice
Vikas Parasram Meshram Much has been written on the split decision of the Constitution Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court upholding reservation for economically weaker sections; therefore, it is unnecessary to repeat it. Only one point needs to be highlighted: there was no disagreement in the constitution bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court regarding economic …
India: Where social discrimination persists despite 75 years of independence
A Rajeshbabu On 15 August 1947, India got independence from British rule. People hoped to lead a respectful life free from all kinds of discrimination, unlike under British imperialism. However, the oppressed people were in despair because they felt that the oppressors had only changed their form. The Constituent Assembly drafted the constitution and provided …
Caste based structural exclusion in Azim Premji University
Ankush Uttam Helode When I hear these two words—‘Mother and Father’—it pains me a lot. This is drawn from my personal experience: my mother was so determined to pursue education when she was young, but couldn’t get one owing to her parent’s socio-economic status which made her cry many times. When I asked her what …
Savarna Subversion of Reservation
Bobby Kunhu I was approached on behalf of a Dalit woman friend who is planning to contest the upcoming local body elections in Tamil Nadu from a general constituency and was being misled that a) a reserved category person cannot contest from a general constituency and b) that if she does contest from a general …