A 7-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of providing a separate quota for the most backward castes within the SC/ST category.
The decision was made by a 6:1 majority under the leadership of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.
The Court emphasized that to grant additional reservations to a caste, there must be concrete evidence of its backwardness, including low representation in education and employment.
The Court recognized that some SC castes have faced more severe discrimination compared to others, highlighting the need for their empowerment.
States must collect adequate data before implementing any classification of reservations.
The Court illustrated the issue by comparing it to passengers struggling to board a train while those already inside resist letting others in, highlighting the need for fair distribution of opportunities.