The judgment was delivered by the seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. (ANI)
New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati expressed strong disapproval of the Supreme Court's recent verdict allowing sub-classification within the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). During a press conference in Lucknow, she stated, "The sub-classification of people within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been permitted. Our party (BSP) doesn't agree with it at all."
Mayawati accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Center of not opposing the decision. According to her, the government’s legal representatives presented arguments that facilitated the Supreme Court's ruling. "They (the government) did not oppose it. Instead, their lawyers presented such arguments that it helped the honorable Supreme Court deliver this decision. Lawyers from either Congress’ side or representing the government, both facilitated the Supreme Court," she claimed.
VIDEO | “They (the government) did not oppose it. Instead, their lawyers presented such arguments that it helped the honourable Supreme Court in delivering this decision. Lawyers from either Congress’ side or representing the government, both facilitated the Supreme Court. This… pic.twitter.com/citXrSPKsZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 4, 2024
Mayawati further alleged that the government's intentions were questionable, suggesting that they are attempting to dismantle the reservation system for SCs and STs through judicial means. "This shows that their intention is not right. Instead of ending the reservation given to SCs and STs themselves, they are trying to end it through the judiciary and they have mostly been successful in it," she added.
In a landmark verdict delivered on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that states have the constitutional authority to make sub-classifications within the SCs and STs. This 6:1 majority decision overruled the 2004 verdict in EV Chinnaiah vs the State of Andhra Pradesh, where a five-judge bench had determined that sub-classification was impermissible, arguing that SC/STs form homogenous classes.
The recent judgment, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, included Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Sharma. Justice Trivedi was the sole dissenter. The court also highlighted that states must identify the 'creamy layer' within the SCs and STs and exclude them from reservations.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), part of the ruling NDA government, announced plans to file a review petition against the ruling. Similarly, the Republican Party of India (Athawale) declared its opposition to any move applying the "creamy layer" criteria to reservations for SCs and STs.
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