Protesters seek ordinance to overturn SC order

Sirsa, August 21

In response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on sub-categorisation of reserved categories and creamy layer restrictions, a major protest was organised in the city on Wednesday. Thousands of persons from reserved categories gathered at Surkhab Chowk and marched to the district administration office, where they submitted a memorandum demanding immediate action. They urged the administration to either issue an ordinance or pass legislation to protect the reservation rights.

Protesters criticised the Supreme Court’s decision, arguing that the new rules endanger the constitutional rights of millions within the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities. They assert that reservations were intended to address social and educational backwardness, not economic status. The new ruling gives state governments the authority to implement creamy layer restrictions and sub-categorisation, whereas, according to Articles 341 and 342, only the President or the Central Government has the power to adjust the SC/ST lists.

BSP district president Bhushan Lal Baror and Advocate Ravindra Balyan highlighted the ongoing “discrimination” against the SC and ST communities, even after 75 years of independence. They criticised the government for failing to address these issues, which has led to numerous vacant positions in the public sector.

Leeluram Asakhera, Prem Rathi, Dharmapal Makhrosarani and Pradeep Kagdana and others were present during the protest.