No provision for creamy layers in SC/ST quota, says Centre

The government on Friday made it clear that it is not going to introduce any provision of creamy layer in the SC and ST reservation, days after the Supreme Court had said that states have the power to sub-classify SC/STs and observed that they can also identify the creamy layer, even from the SC/STs, excluding them from the benefits.

The Cabinet held wide discussions on the SC's order, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters after the meeting today.

Today, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, wide discussions were held on this issue, Vaishnaw said. "...the well-thought opinion of the Cabinet is that the NDA government is committed and dedicated towards the provisions of the Constitution prepared by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. And as per the Constitution, there is no provision of creamy layer in SC and ST reservation. Cabinet's well-thought through decision is that the SC and ST reservation should be according to Baba Saheb's Constitution," Vaishnaw said.


Earlier on Friday, a delegation of BJP's SC and ST MPs met Modi and shared their concerns over the Supreme Court order on the quota of SC and ST.

After the meeting, the MPs said that Modi assured them that he will look into their concerns and the court has only made an observation about creamy layer in SC and ST reservation.

The delegation comprising Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Virender Kumar, Arjun Meghwal, Sarbananda Sonowal and others, met Modi in the Parliament building and submitted a memorandum. After meeting with PM Modi, BJP MP Faggan Singh Kulaste said: "We told the PM that the SC decision on (identifying ) creamy layer among SCs/STs (and their exclusion from reservation benefits) should not be implemented. The PM assured that this (SC observation) and government will not do it," he said.