People's Democracy

On Creamy Layer In SC/ST Reservations

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statement on October 20, 2006.

THE Supreme Court, in its judgement on the promotion issue for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, has opined that the creamy layer concept should be applied to them. The CPI(M) holds that scheduled castes and tribes constitute the lowest rung of the social order and they are being oppressed even today in multiple ways because of their lower caste status. Hence they require reservation at all levels without any differentiation within the community. 

The constitution has no provision for creamy layer within the scheduled castes and tribes precisely because of the compelling realities of their socio-economic oppression and exploitation. It is unfortunate that the court has ignored the social reality while pronouncing judgement on such a vital issue.