1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. UPSC

Sub-Categorization within the SCs


Why is it in the news?

  • The Union government has established of a committee to address the equitable distribution of benefits among Scheduled Castes (SCs) across the country.
  • This was triggered by the Madiga community’s demand in Telangana for sub-categorization within the SCs to ensure fairer distribution of resources.
  • The objective is to identify and provide assistance to the most backward among SCs.
  • States like Punjab, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu have attempted to enact reservation laws at the state level to sub-categorize SCs, acknowledging varying degrees of backwardness within the community.
Legality of Sub-categorization

·       E. V. Chinnaiah v State of Andhra Pradesh (2004) Case: Supreme Court’s 5-Judge Bench ruled against sub-categorization.

·       Judicial Standoff: Ongoing legal proceedings as a Constitution Bench has not yet provided a conclusive decision on the matter.

Arguments Favouring Sub-categorization

  • Graded Inequalities: Recognition of disparities among SC communities, justifying tailored interventions.
  • Unequal Representation: Some communities claim less access to benefits; for example, the Madiga community argues that the Mala community has disproportionately benefited from SC reservations.
  • Legal Standpoint: A five-judge Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra affirms the competence of states to provide preferential treatment to the weakest among SCs without depriving others of benefits.
Committees for Sub-categorization

·       Committee of Secretaries: Comprising members from Home Ministry, Law Ministry, Tribal Affairs Ministry, and Social Justice Ministry, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.

·       Mandate: Evaluate strategies for equitable distribution, focusing on special initiatives without delving into policy matters like reservation quotas.

Arguments Against Sub-categorization

  • Legal Challenges: According to Supreme Court, the state lacks the power to unilaterally sub-categorize communities in the SC list. The Constitution has provided that these lists can only be made by Parliament and notified by the President.
  • Socio-economic Data: Lack of updated data on the socio-economic status of SCs, hinders the establishment of a scientific basis for sub-categorization.

Some related Statistics and provisions

  • According to the 2011 Census, Scheduled Castes (SCs) constitute 16.6% of India’s total population, a slight increase from 16.2% in the 2001 Census.
  • Article 341: Defines Scheduled Castes with respect to any State or Union Territory.

Constitutional Provisions:

  • Article 14: Guarantees equality before the law.
  • Article 15(4): Empowers the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, including Scheduled Castes.
  • Article 16(4), 16(4A), and 16(4B): Provide for reservation in posts and services.
  • Article 17: Abolishes untouchability and forbids its practice in any form.
  • Article 23: Emphasizes the importance of protecting individual freedom and dignity.
  • Article 24: Prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years in any factory, mine, or hazardous occupation.
  • Article 46: Focuses on the promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other weaker sections.
  • Article 330: Provides reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
  • Article 335: Permits laws that reduce requirements or relax qualifications for members of SC/ST communities in appointments to public services and posts.

Other Statutory Provisions:

  • RFCTLARR Act, 2013 (Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act): Sections 41 and 42 of the Act contain special provisions protecting the interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Designed to provide protection to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and enforce their rights, particularly in preventing atrocities against them.

Conclusion

  • While there is no constitutional prohibition against sub-categorization, the government must justify the move through a comprehensive caste census with emphasis on collecting socio-economic data for all communities to ensure a justifiable and objective basis for sub-categorization.
  • The primary focus should be on the equitable distribution of benefits, schemes, and initiatives to the SC population, aligning with constitutional and statutory provisions.

Get free UPSC Updates straight to your inbox!

Get Updates on New Notification about APPSC, TSPSC and UPSC

Get Current Affairs Updates Directly into your Inbox

Discover more from AMIGOS IAS

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

WhatsApp Us

Exit mobile version