The Supreme Court has recently overturned its long-standing stance on reservations, approving the introduction of “quotas within quotas” in SC/ST reservations. This pivotal decision has ignited widespread debate across the country, with varied reactions from different political entities.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, has vocally opposed the ruling. In a press conference, Yadav criticized the decision, arguing that the reservation system should address social discrimination rather than economic criteria. He emphasized that SC/ST reservations are based on social backwardness and untouchability, not economic status. Yadav contends that introducing a “creamy layer” provision contradicts the foundational principles of the Indian Constitution and the 1932 Poona Pact.
Yadav highlighted ongoing social discrimination, citing instances of marginalized communities facing humiliation, and criticized the idea that a small group could determine the fate of millions of Dalits and tribals. He further stated that the country’s SC/ST Commissions, with their statutory status, should be entrusted with making such decisions rather than having them imposed by the central government. The RJD has called for the central government to urgently address the discrepancies related to classification through an ordinance. Failure to do so, Yadav warned, could lead to significant unrest among Dalit and tribal communities.