Govt dragging feet on SC/ST sub-categorisation?

THE Centre seems to be dragging its feet on the recent Supreme Court order allowing the state governments to sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST).

- PREETHA NAIR

The ruling party says that it doesn't want to hurry into any decisions on the matter. The government is in talks with relevant stakeholders and will take a call at an appropriate time, according to BJP national spokesperson and Dalit leader Guru Prakash Paswan.

On August 1 this year, the apex court, in a majority ruling, allowed state governments to sub-classify SC/STs to make policies for the cause of affirmative action. It ruled that states devise a policy to identify and exclude the creamy layer from the SC/ST categories.

Facing pressure from within the BJP and its key allies JD(U) and TDP, the Centre took a step back on the 'creamy layer' issue. It clarified that it will not implement the court's proposal of carving out the creamy layer within SC/ST reservations.

However, the Modi government is yet to spell out its stand on the state governments' power to sub-classify SC/STs, as its key allies are divided over it.