India will remain closed on 21st August

There will be a Bharat Bandh on 21st August, i.e. tomorrow. In fact, various Dalit organizations across the country will take to the streets on 21st August against the Supreme Court's decision on creamy layer in SC-ST reservation.

Various organizations across the country have called for a 'Bharat Bandh' on 21st August against the Supreme Court's decision on creamy layer in Scheduled Caste and Tribe reservation. Many parties including BSP are supporting this bandh.

In such a situation, the question is why Bharat Bandh has been called? Which is that decision of the Supreme Court, which the Dalit organizations are opposing? What are the demands of Dalit organizations? Why is lateral entry in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under question? What will be open and what will remain closed during Bharat Bandh.

While giving the verdict on creamy layer in SC-ST reservation, the court had said, "All SC and ST castes and tribes are not the same class. Some castes may be more backward. For example - those who do the work of cleaning sewers and weavers. Both these castes come under SC, but the people of this caste are more backward than others. For the upliftment of these people, state governments can sub-classify SC-ST reservation and set a separate quota. Doing so is not against Article 341 of the Constitution.

There are two conditions

100% quota cannot be given to any one caste within SC.

Before deciding the quota of any caste included in SC, there should be solid data of its share.

Let us tell you that the Supreme Court gave this decision while hearing the petitions, in which it was said that only a few castes included in SC have got the benefit of reservation. Due to this many castes have been left behind. There should be quota within quota to bring them into the mainstream. This argument was being opposed by the 2004 decision, in which it was said that Scheduled Castes can be classified.