‘Our party completely disagrees’: Mayawati criticises Supreme Court’s sub-classification verdict, urges constitutional amendment

BSP chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati expressed her party’s disagreement with the recent Supreme Court verdict permitting sub-classification within Scheduled Castes on Sunday. “Our party completely disagrees with the sub-classification of people within Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs),” Mayawati stated during a press conference.

In a landmark verdict on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that states are constitutionally empowered to create sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes, a socially heterogeneous group, to provide reservations for castes that are socially and educationally more backward.

“Atrocities faced by the SC and ST communities have been endured collectively and within this group, any kind of sub-classification would be inappropriate,” she emphasised. 

Mayawati urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision, warning that if the reservation facility provided by Baba Saheb to uplift millions of Dalits and tribals is abolished, it will create significant difficulties. “If anyone claims that SCs and STs have become economically strong, they are only referring to a small percentage around 10 or 11%; the condition of the remaining 90% is dire.”

She added, “With this Supreme Court decision, about 90% of those who need reservation will be left behind. If they are excluded based on this decision, it will have severe consequences.”

Mayawati criticised the ruling party and the Congress, stating, “The Centre and the BJP, who claim to support the SC-ST community, should have advocated for them properly, which they did not. The Congress also took a vague stance on the issue.”

Addressing the BJP government, she said, “If your intentions are clear, you should amend the Constitution in Parliament and include the decision in the Ninth Schedule.”

Questioning the intentions of political parties, Mayawati asserted, “I do not accept the Supreme Court’s decision because Parliament has the authority to overturn it. If they do not, it shows that the intentions of the Congress, the BJP and other parties regarding reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs are not clear.”

Calling the Supreme Court’s judgement “vague,” she argued that the court has not set any standards, which could lead state governments to make current reservations for SCs and STs ineffective. 

Mayawati concluded by stating, “The reservation for SCs and STs is based on addressing educational, social, and economic disparities. The social perspective towards them has not changed, making it crucial for them to receive reservations.”