Verdict to let political parties address their constituencies

The apex court judgement will help more backward communities to receive reservation benefits and allow political parties to address their constituencies.

Speaking to ET, former social justice and empowerment secretary R Subrahmanyam said: "It is a welcome development. It helps in wider protection of educationally and socially backward castes within the Scheduled Castes. Even within SCs, there are certain communities which have historically taken more advantage of the reservation and have become economically more advanced than others. With this sub-categorisation, states can address this disparity."

A state government, however, would not need to quantify the communities within SCs. Subrahmanyam said there is a methodology that does not require a person-to-person survey but an overall study to gauge a community's backwardness. "This methodology is followed by national commissions when proposals are referred to them for inclusion of communities in SC or ST lists. The study of a community can involve parameters like share of the community in government jobs or number of graduates," he said.

This judgement will help the political class address its electorally significant constituencies. Apart from Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs in Punjab, other communities in different states will benefit too. These include Madigas in Andhra, Paswans in Bihar, Jatavs in UP and Arundhatiyars in Tamil Nadu.

The significance of this verdict can be gauged by the fact that days before Telangana assembly polls in November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, "From today, Manda Krishna, founder of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi, is my leader in the movement to end the decades of injustice being done to the community. I will be on his side till you all get justice."

Andhra SCs belong to two communities - Madigas and Malas. Madigas have been vociferous about the fact that most of the quota benefits have been cornered by Mala community.