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Supreme Court allows sub-classification of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes for reservation, overrules 2005 judgment

SC overruled its 2005 judgment of EV Chinnaiah Vs State of Andhra Pradesh.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes into different groups based on their inter se backwardness for reservation benefits, overruling its 2005 judgment of EV Chinnaiah Vs State of Andhra Pradesh.

A Constitutional bench of seven judges headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud with a 6:1 majority overruled the 2005 judgment, which states that only the President has the power to notify the inclusion or exclusion of a caste as a Scheduled Castes, and the State cannot tinker with the list under Article 341 of the Constitution.

The Chinnaiah verdict had also held that any sub-classification of the Scheduled Castes would violate Article 14 of the Constitution.

Chief Justice Chandrachud noted that Scheduled Castes are not an integrated or homogenous group.

The other judges are B R Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Sharma. Justice Bela Trivedi dissented from the majority and ruled that such sub-classification is not permissible.

Pronouncing its majority judgment, the bench said that the members of SCs and STs are not able to climb up the ladder due to the systemic discrimination faced by them. The Apex Court said that under Article 14, sub-classification of caste is permitted.

The Court noted that out of 25 castes, only 9 are Scheduled Castes in Madhya Pradesh. Asserting that the Court noted that sub-classification of SCs and STs by states will not violate Article 341.

The Top Court also said that it has not found anything in Articles 15, 16, and 341 that prevents sub-classification for SCs, adding that the Court said states can sub-classify for the inadequate representation of some classes.

The Court asserted that when a state sub-classifies, it should be backed up by empirical information and should not be based on whims, and to meet political ends.

One of the seven judges, Justice Gavai said that the state must frame a policy to identify the creamy layer among the SCs and STs category and take them out of the fold of affirmative action and the Court noted that this is the only way to gain true equality.

Another judge of the Constitutional bench, Justice Vikram Nath was of the view that the creamy layer principle applicable to OBCs should apply to SCs and STs but the criteria for excluding the creamy layer for the purpose of affirmative action could be different from that of OBCs.

Chief Justice and Justice Manoj Misra held the same opinion. Justices Gavai, Nath, Mithal, and Sharma agreed with the Chief Justice regarding the States’ power to sub-classify SCs based on supporting empirical data. They also suggested that the creamy layer principle should apply to SCs/STs. Justice Trivedi delivered the sole dissenting opinion on the seven-judge Bench.

   

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RG Kar victim’s mother reacts to court’s verdict, says Sanjay Roy was not alone

She asserted that Roy was not acting alone.

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In response to the conviction of Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case, the mother of the deceased doctor expressed her ongoing concern on Saturday, highlighting their continued wait for the arrest and punishment of additional perpetrators. She asserted that Roy was not acting alone.

“The evidence clearly proves Sanjay’s guilt through biological findings. His silence during the trial further indicates his involvement in the torture and murder of my daughter. However, he is not the only one; there are others involved who have yet to be brought to justice. Therefore, true justice has not been achieved,” the victim’s mother stated to PTI following the court’s decision.

She emphasized that the legal proceedings are far from over, vowing to fight for justice alongside her husband until their last breaths. “The case remains incomplete. It will only reach completion when everyone involved in my daughter’s murder has been brought to justice. We will wait for that day… and we won’t find peace until then. That is our only desire now,” she said.

A Sealdah court found Sanjay Roy guilty on Saturday of raping and murdering the on-duty doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 of the previous year. The court is set to announce his sentence on January 20.

Roy was convicted under Sections 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to rape, and Sections 66 and 103 (1), which are concerned with punishments for murder and death. Section 103 (1) provides for a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.

Following the verdict, Sanjay Roy, a former civil volunteer, claimed in court that he was wrongfully implicated in the case. “I am innocent and have been falsely accused. The real perpetrators are being allowed to go free. One IPS officer is involved,” he asserted.

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India, US ink pact for cooperation in cybercrime investigations

By bolstering cooperation in cybercrime investigations, this agreement is expected to further strengthen security collaboration between India and the U.S., reinforcing their comprehensive global strategic partnership.

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India and the United States have formalized an agreement aimed at enhancing collaboration in cybercrime investigations, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This pact was signed just days before the Biden administration transitioned to the Trump administration.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was executed in Washington, D.C. on January 17, 2025, by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, according to the MEA.

The agreement facilitates increased cooperation and training between the respective agencies of both nations concerning the use of cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics in criminal investigations.

In India, the implementation of the MoU falls under the purview of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) within the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alongside its agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Cyber Crimes Center (C3) of Homeland Security Investigations, will oversee its execution.

The MoU recognizes the complex relationship between cybercrime and the common security challenges shared by India and the U.S., which include terrorism, violent extremism, terror financing, drug trafficking, organized crime, human trafficking, illegal migration, money laundering, and transportation security.

By bolstering cooperation in cybercrime investigations, this agreement is expected to further strengthen security collaboration between India and the U.S., reinforcing their comprehensive global strategic partnership.

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Delhi elections: Kejriwal’s car attacked during campaign, AAP blames BJP goons, releases video

“The goons of BJP candidate Pravesh Verma attacked Arvind Kejriwal with bricks and stones during his campaign, attempting to harm him and disrupt his efforts. BJP, Kejriwal ji will not be intimidated by your cowardly actions; the people of Delhi will respond appropriately,” stated the party.

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday claimed that its convenor and former Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, was attacked while he was campaigning for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

To substantiate this allegation, AAP released a video. The party accused the BJP and its candidate for the New Delhi Assembly constituency, Parvesh Verma, of orchestrating the attack out of fear of defeat in the elections.

“The goons of BJP candidate Pravesh Verma attacked Arvind Kejriwal with bricks and stones during his campaign, attempting to harm him and disrupt his efforts. BJP, Kejriwal ji will not be intimidated by your cowardly actions; the people of Delhi will respond appropriately,” stated the party.

Shortly after AAP’s accusations, Parvesh Verma shared a video alleging that Kejriwal’s convoy ran over two individuals during the campaign in New Delhi.

“While answering questions, Arvind Kejriwal hit two young men with his car. Both were taken to Lady Harding Hospital. In the face of impending defeat, he neglected the value of people’s lives. I am heading to the hospital,” the BJP leader said.

After arriving at the hospital, Parvesh Verma addressed reporters, stating, “They are injured and receiving treatment. All allegations made by Arvind Kejriwal are unfounded… The three individuals injured are residents of this assembly constituency, and they were struck by Arvind Kejriwal’s vehicle. He is simply afraid of losing…”

In a video released by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), several individuals can be seen waving black flags near Kejriwal’s convoy.

Parvesh Verma is competing against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Sandeep Dikshit from Congress in the New Delhi assembly constituency. Both candidates have submitted their nominations and expressed confidence in their respective parties’ chances of winning.

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