Supreme Court to examine PIL for 'income-based' reservation system for SC, ST members

Despite decades of reservation, the plea says, a small but influential segment of SC/ST families disproportionately benefits, leaving many within these communities still grappling with severe economic hardship.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Union government and others on a PIL seeking direction to implement constitutionally aligned reforms that prioritize reservation benefits based on income, ensuring the poorest within eligible communities receive first preference.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, while agreeing to examine the plea, noted that counsel must “be ready to face lots of opposition” due to the far-reaching impact of the petition.

The PIL, filed by Ramashankar Prajapati and Yamuna Prasad, contended that despite decades of reservation, the most economically deprived are often left behind, with benefits captured by the relatively better-off within reserved categories. Prioritization by income, the plea said, will ensure assistance reaches those who need it most.

The petitioners, belonging to Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes categories, sought a direction to frame policies for a more equitable and just system of reservation in government employment and educational opportunities, ensuring a merit-cum-means approach to the distribution of benefits.

They highlighted economic disparities within these communities, which have resulted in inequitable distribution of benefits under current reservation policies.

“While the reservation framework was introduced to uplift historically disadvantaged communities, the current system disproportionately benefits those belonging to relatively well-off economic strata and higher social status within these groups, leaving the most economically deprived with limited access to opportunities,” the plea said.

Filed by advocate Sandeep Singh and settled through advocate Reena N Singh, the plea argued that a creamy layer mechanism ought to be introduced among SCs and STs, ensuring benefits reach the needy. Without this, affluent SC/ST families continue to claim benefits and enjoy intergenerational advantages.

The plea stressed the urgent need to integrate economic criteria into reservation policy so benefits are conferred upon those genuinely requiring state support.

“The proposal does not seek to abolish or undermine caste-based reservations but rather to refine them to serve their intended purpose more effectively. By introducing an income-based prioritization within SC/ST reservations, the framework aims to prioritize the most disadvantaged individuals among these communities,” it said.

Despite over seven decades of reservations, many individuals from SC/ST backgrounds continue to face severe economic hardship.

“A small but influential section of SC/ST families has successfully leveraged reservations to attain high-ranking government positions, financial stability, and quality education. This has led to intra-community economic stratification, where the relatively affluent continue to benefit at the expense of those who remain in financial distress,” the plea added.