'Not In Baba Saheb's Constitution': Cabinet Turns Down Supreme Court's SC-ST Sub-Classification Call

SC ST Creamy Layer Verdict:  Days after the landmark Supreme Court ruling suggested the removal of 'creamy layer' from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and allowed the state to sub-classify them, the Union Cabinet turned down the proposal, citing that "there is no provision for a creamy layer in SC and ST reservation in the Constitution given by the B R Ambedkar."

This came after BJP's Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes MPs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Supreme Court's verdict. The ruling party's Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs were assured that no step would be taken on the apex court's decision calling for Creamy Layer exclusion from the SCs/STs, The Indian Express reported.

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“Recently, the Supreme Court gave a judgment on the issue of reservation. The SC has made some suggestions about SC/ST reservations in it. Today, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, wide discussions were held on this issue. And the well-thought-through opinion of the cabinet is that the NDA govt is committed and dedicated towards the provisions of the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar. As per the provisions of Babasaheb Ambedkar, there is no provision for a creamy layer in the SC/ST reservation. Cabinet decides that SC/ST reservation should be according to Babasaheb’s Constitution,” I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said as quoted by the Times of India.

Meanwhile, the Congress Party slammed BJP over the precarious condition of the SC/ST reservation in the country. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party do not favour the apex court's verdict on the exclusion of creamy layers from SCs and STs.

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"...This shows the BJP's intention of ending the reservations. On one side they have privatised the public sector jobs. There are a lot of vacancies, but they are not recruiting. SCs and STs are not able to get jobs. No SCs are at the high-level positions. They are trying to suppress the SCs and STs by classifying them in creamy layers... As long as there is untouchability in this country, the reservations should be there," Kharge was quoted as saying by ANI.