Shimla/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently made headlines by rejecting the idea of applying the "creamy layer" concept to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) reservations.
As far is Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other Himalayan states are concerned, none of the Chief Minister have taken the stance making any comment over this contentious issue.
Will the nonBJP Ruled states go ahead with implementation of Supreme Court judgment or they will create ruckus to score political points as nobody is cocksure about the response among the SC/ST communities across the nation.
Though SC ST MPs are against creamy layer, but the SC ST social groups and NGOs have not reacted to the creamy layer formula judgment given by the Supreme Court of India.
This stance has stirred up a significant debate, especially in light of the Supreme Court's earlier observations that supported the implementation of a creamy layer formula within SC/ST reservations.
Speaking to a group of BJP MPs from SC and ST communities, PM Modi firmly stated, "The question of a creamy layer within SC/ST reservations does not even arise."
This strong declaration has put a question mark over the future implementation of the Supreme Court's judgment, which had advocated for a reservation system that differentiates between the affluent and the underprivileged within these communities.
The concept of the creamy layer is a well-known one within the context of Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations.
It refers to the more affluent or well-off members of the community who are excluded from reservation benefits, ensuring that these benefits reach those who need them most.
However, applying this concept to SC/ST reservations has been a contentious issue.
The Supreme Court had previously observed that the inclusion of a creamy layer in SC/ST reservations could potentially enhance the effectiveness of affirmative action by ensuring that the most disadvantaged sections within these communities receive the benefits.
However, PM Modi’s outright rejection of this idea signals that the government is not in favor of implementing such a measure.
The Congress and other opposition parties have criticized PM Modi’s stance, arguing that the government is ignoring the Supreme Court’s judgment and the need for a more equitable distribution of reservation benefits.
Congress leaders have pointed out that the idea behind the creamy layer concept is to prevent the benefits of reservation from being monopolized by a few, thereby ensuring that the truly marginalized sections within SC/ST communities are uplifted.
On the other hand, BJP leaders and SC/ST MPs who met the Prime Minister have supported his stance, arguing that the creamy layer concept, if applied to SC/ST reservations, could undermine the constitutional guarantee of social justice for these historically oppressed communities.
As the debate continues, the question of whether the creamy layer concept will ever be applied to SC/ST reservations remains uncertain.
For now, PM Modi’s firm opposition to the idea has certainly shifted the focus back to the broader question of how best to ensure social justice for the most disadvantaged in society.
