Supreme Court examines verdict on SC/ST quota in govt jobs

The Supreme Court on Friday examined its earlier verdict of providing reservations to Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes (SCs/STs) in government jobs promotions.

The five-judge bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India Dipak Mishra examined whether its 12-year-old verdict was right or wrong. The matter will be next heard on August 9.

In its over a decade-old verdict, the top court had observed that states were not bound to provide reservations to SCs/STs for promotions in government jobs.

During today's hearing, Attorney General KK Venugopal, who was representing the Centre said that the people belonging to Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes still face atrocities.

In his submission to the Apex Court, Venugopal said, "I don't want to comment. But they suffered for more than 1000 years. Atrocities on them happen even today."

On June 5, the Supreme Court allowed the Centre to provide reservation in promotion for employees of the Scheduled Caste And Scheduled Tribe community as per law, till the issue is cleared off by a constitution bench.

Reportedly, the Delhi High Court in August last year had passed an order saying that the government cannot blindly provide reservation in promotion to SCs and STs, until and unless there is an adequate representation for the candidate.