Athawale to oppose creamy layer criteria in SC-ST quota

Mumbai, August 3
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has opposed any move to apply creamy layer criteria to quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a comment coming in the backdrop of a historic Supreme Court verdict on sub-classifications within these communities for wider quota benefits.
Athawale, who heads the RPI (Athawale), however, noted that the apex court’s decision of sub-classification of SCs/STs by states will provide justice to castes that are more backward among these groups. Speaking here on Friday, the MoS for Social Justice and Empowerment also demanded similar sub-classifications for OBCs and general category members.
“The reservation for SCs/STs is based on caste. We will strongly oppose any move to apply the criteria of creamy layer to quota for SCs and STs,” Athawale, whose party is a constituent of the BJP-led NDA, said. A seven-judge Constitution Bench held by a 6:1 majority that further sub-classification of SCs and STs by states can be permitted to ensure quotas for castes that are more backward among them. — PTI