New Delhi: A seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court today okayed sub-classification within SC/ST Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories to keep reservation in jobs and education for the more marginalised among backward communities.The significant verdict was passed by the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud with 6:1 weightage, with Justice Bela Trivedi dissenting. Six separate judgments were written. The verdict overrules the 2004 judgment of a five-judge Constitution bench in the case of EV Chinnaiah vs State of Andhra Pradesh. The other judges on the bench were Justice BR Gavai, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Pankaj Mithal, Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Satish Chandra Mishra.In the hearing, the Centre had told the court that it in favour of sub-classification in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories. The Chief Justice had found that there was a distinction between “sub-classification” and “sub-categorisation” and held that states may have to sub-categorise reserved category communities to ensure that more backward groups are benefited.
