Overview
- A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant asked the Centre to file its response, with the petitions to be taken up later.
- The pleas by O P Shukla and Samta Andolan Samiti seek criteria to exclude well-off SC/ST individuals from reservation in jobs and admissions.
- The petitioners also seek mandated data collection on under-representation of sub-classified SC/ST groups in Union and state services, plus fixed timelines for remedial steps.
- The petitions rely on the August 1, 2024 seven-judge ruling permitting state sub-classification within SCs, with parts of the majority noting the creamy layer principle can apply to SCs/STs.
- One filing argues that those holding senior government or constitutional positions should no longer receive reservation benefits.