Mixed response to Haryana Govt move on creation of sub-category in SCs
The Haryana Government's move on creation of a sub-category within the Scheduled Castes in the state as per a recent order of the Supreme Court has evoked a mixed response.
While the members of the A Block of the Scheduled Castes, who now identify themselves as Deprived Scheduled Castes (DSC), have welcomed the decision, the Scheduled Castes falling under the B Block have decried the move.
"It is a big decision by the Haryana Government. We have been struggling for it for 18 years. We welcome the move and express our gratitude to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini for honouring his commitment. We also appreciate the prompt decision taken by the state Cabinet in this regard," said Dr Swadesh Kabir, the state president of the Deprived Scheduled Castes (DSC) Mahapanchayat, Haryana.
Kabir asserted that the decision would benefit lakhs of youngsters of Haryana belonging to the Deprived Scheduled Castes (or A Block) in higher studies and employment in government service.
He pointed out that the members of the Scheduled Castes classified under the B Block had been getting a lion's share of reservation benefits, while the castes under the A block generally remain deprived of these.
On the other hand, the members of the B-Block have opposed and questioned the move, maintaining that the state government had acted in a haste without bothering to get a caste census conducted to assess the actual situation prevailing on ground.
"A proper social audit and caste census should have been conducted to comply with the Supreme Court's order in letter and spirit," said Hari Om, a representative of the SC B Block, expressing unhappiness on the state government's decision.
The recent verdict of the Supreme Court had maintained that the states are empowered to make sub-categories of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for granting quotas inside the reserved categories to uplift the more underprivileged castes.
A seven-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had ruled that the further sub-classification of SCs and STs by states can be permitted to ensure the grant of quota to more backward castes inside these groups.
