Hyderabad: No Changes Needed in SC Categorisation Report, Says Minister
Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narsimha announced on Friday that there is no need to alter even 0.01% of the report submitted by the One Man Judicial Commission on the categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
During a presentation on the commission’s report, the Minister stated that the classification would be implemented as usual. He emphasized that the commission had considered all necessary criteria, including empirical data suggested by the Supreme Court, to ensure justice for every category.
He further mentioned that the cabinet had approved the commission’s report, except for the creamy layer. The categorisation would come into effect soon, after which job notifications would be issued. Recruitment and reservations would be carried out as per the new classification.
The Minister explained that the Constitution provides a 15% reservation for Scheduled Castes. While some caste groups have benefited and progressed through these reservations, others have struggled to compete, leading to growing inequalities within the SC community. This has caused dissatisfaction, insecurity, and anxiety among certain groups.
This dissatisfaction became evident 25 years after the implementation of the Constitution. In response, the Justice Ramachandra Raju Commission recommended categorisation, leading to the enactment of the Categorisation Act in 2000. The Act divided 59 Scheduled Castes into four groups—A, B, C, and D—based on population, education, employment opportunities, and overall backwardness. However, some individuals challenged the classification in the Supreme Court, and in 2004, a five-judge bench ruled that state governments did not have the power to categorise SCs.
In 2005, the then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s government passed a unanimous resolution in the Assembly, urging the Central Government to support categorisation. Following this, the UPA government appointed the Justice Usha Mehra Commission in 2006. The commission found that between 2000 and 2004, categorisation had helped the Relli, Madiga, and associated castes gain better access to higher education and employment.
On August 1, 2024, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled in favour of categorisation. It stated that classification under Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution is permissible as long as it aims to achieve equality. The court highlighted that without categorisation, the most disadvantaged SC groups would not receive their fair share of reservations. The ruling also clarified that Article 341 does not prevent state governments from taking necessary steps and enacting laws to promote the welfare of Scheduled Castes.
Minister Raja Narsimha reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the classification and ensuring justice for all SC communities.
