Supreme Court rules 'creamy layer' must be excluded from SC/ST reservations
New Delhi: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has mandated that the 'creamy layer' among Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) be excluded from reservation benefits. This decision aims to ensure that reservations reach those who are genuinely disadvantaged within these communities.
Currently, the 'creamy layer' concept applies exclusively to reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The Court’s judgment, delivered by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela Trivedi, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Sharma, allows for the sub-classification of SCs and STs. Justice Trivedi was the sole dissenting voice.
The ruling requires states to develop a policy to identify and exclude the creamy layer among SCs and STs. Justice Gavai emphasized that this step is crucial for achieving true equality as guaranteed by the Constitution. He argued that individuals from SC backgrounds who have benefited from reservations should not be compared to those who have not received such benefits.
Justice Vikram Nath supported this view, asserting that the creamy layer principle applicable to OBCs should also be extended to SCs. Justice Pankaj Mithal proposed that reservations should be limited to the first generation, with subsequent generations not being eligible if the first generation has already benefited from them.
Justice Satish Chandra Sharma concurred with Justice Gavai, asserting that identifying the creamy layer within SCs and STs should be a constitutional imperative.
The ruling builds on the 2018 decision in Jarnail Singh v. Lacchmi Narain Gupta, where the Court had observed that applying the creamy layer principle to SCs and STs does not alter the Presidential List under Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution. Justice RF Nariman, in that case, noted that the purpose of reservations is to uplift backward classes to ensure they can compete equally with other citizens, which is undermined if the creamy layer within these classes monopolizes reservation benefits.
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MYAS launches quiz on national flag, 25 top-scorers to get trip to Siachen with Mandaviya
New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has launched an online quiz on the national flag and 25 top-scoring participants in the age bracket of 21 to 29 will get an opportunity to visit Siachen with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The quiz, according to the ministry, will "foster patriotism and enhance awareness about the Indian National Flag."
"This online quiz, hosted on the MYBharat portal (mybharat.gov.in), invites all citizen to participate and test their knowledge about the Tricolour," the ministry stated.
It will consist of multiple-choice questions and all contestants will be awarded an e-certificate.
"As a grand incentive, 25 top-scoring participants will be selected for a remarkable opportunity to visit Siachen in the company of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya," the ministry said.
"The selection of winners for the Siachen visit will be limited to youth between the ages of 21 and 29. The final selection of the 25 winners will be conducted through a computer-based lottery system from the pool of top scorers," it added.
