Supreme Court's Caste Sub-classification Ruling

Key Points

• 1The Supreme Court permits sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for separate quotas.
• 2The court also opens doors for identifying and excluding the 'creamy layer' among SC and ST from benefits.
• 3The judgment helps fine-tune policies of social justice in an era where affirmative action faces an onslaught.
• 4The ruling marks the conclusion of a 20-year-long legal struggle by state governments.
• 5The majority decision prioritizes substance over form, allowing states to sub-classify SCs.
• 6The judgment reinforces the socio-legal consensus on caste-conscious affirmative action.
• 7The ruling fortifies the imperative for a nation-wide caste Census.