Scheduled Castes

SC status after conversion amounts to 'fraud' on Constitution: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court has issued a sweeping direction to the entire administrative machinery of Uttar Pradesh to ensure that individuals converted to Christianity do not continue to avail benefits meant for Scheduled Castes (SC). The court directed the Principal Secretary (Minorities Welfare Department) to take appropriate action to ensure that the distinction between minority status and Scheduled Caste status is strictly enforced. The court said that retention of SC status after conversion amounts to a "fraud on the Constitution" and set a strict deadline of four months for all district magistrates in the state to act in accordance with the law to identify and prevent such occurrences. Justice Praveen Kumar Giri while dismissing an application filed by Jitendra Sahani passed the order. Sahani has been accused of mocking Hindu deities and promoting enmity. Sahani had filed the plea to quash the charge sheet in the case on the ground that he had sought permission from authorities

The Last Bench: A story that moves readers to question caste norms

This book doesn't call for action to abolish the caste system - yet it leaves the reader wanting to do away with it

SC bars reserved category from switching to general if rules prohibit

Supreme Court rules that reserved candidates using relaxations cannot claim unreserved posts if recruitment rules restrict such migration

Accepted report on SC internal reservation with tweaks: CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the state government, in its cabinet meeting, accepted Justice H N Nagamohan Das's recommendations on internal reservation to the Scheduled Castes (SC) with certain modifications, including providing six per cent internal quota to the communities identified by the Commission as 'Left-Hand castes'. Siddaramaiah told the Assembly that as soon as the internal reservation order is issued, recruitment processes will commence, and a one-time relaxation of the age limit will be provided. "We have also decided to withdraw cases filed against internal reservation activists," he said. Reading out a statement in the Assembly on the decision taken in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the CM said the cabinet noted that the Commission had grouped Paraya', Mogera' and other Right-Hand castes' among SCs together with the 'Left-Hand castes'. "We decided to classify these communities with the Right-Hand group and provide them six per cent ...

Karnataka Cabinet decides to provide internal reservation among SCs

The Karnataka cabinet on Tuesday night decided to provide internal reservation among Scheduled Castes by categorising 101 castes among them into three categories, official sources said. In a special meeting, the Cabinet discussed the recommendations of the Justice H N Nagmohan Das Commission report, aimed at providing internal reservation among Scheduled Castes (SCs). The commission had submitted its 1,766-page report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on August 4, and it was placed before the cabinet on August 7. The internal reservation is aimed at slicing up the 17 per cent reservation matrix given to 101 scheduled castes. According to sources, the cabinet decided to accept the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission's report, but made some alterations. Of the 17 per cent reservation that SCs have in the state, as per the internal reservation formula evolved by the Cabinet, the SC (Right) and SC (Left) will get 6 per cent each, while the 'touchable' Dalit communities (Lambani, Bhovi, Korm

IndiGo employee alleges caste-based abuse by seniors; FIR registered

A Bengaluru-based IndiGo employee has accused three seniors of casteist slurs and harassment at a Gurugram meeting; police probe is underway as airline calls complaint 'baseless'

Vijay Devarakonda booked under SC/ST Act for remarks on tribal people

A case was registered against actor Vijay devarakonda under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, for his alleged remarks about tribal people during a movie pre-release event here, police said on Sunday. According to police, the actor allegedly compared the recent terror attack in Pahalgam to tribal wars from 500 years ago while speaking at the event in April this year. The actor made comments in April. However, based on a complaint a case underSC/ST Act was booked against him on June 17, a police official told PTI. The complaint filed by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik Alias Ashok Rathod, State President, Joint Action Committee of Tribal Communities alleged that the movie actor who participated in the pre-release event of the movie titled 'Retro', starring hero Surya, made comments that hurt the sentiments of the tribals and seriously insulted them Rathod alleged that Devarakonda compared tribes with Pakistani terrorists and his comments are perceived as racially offensive. On May 3, t

Caste census to boost social justice, not division: NCSC Chairperson

Nixing insinuations that caste enumeration would create chasms in society, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairperson Kishor Makwana said the data gathered would serve as a foundation for policy decisions and strengthen social justice. It will help uplift the marginalised backward communities, he told PTI in an interview. With the BJP-led NDA government deciding to include caste enumeration in the next census, Makwana welcomed the move, saying that unlike in 2011, "definite figures would be available" that would ensure proportionate access to welfare schemes. The UPA government conducted the Socio-Economic and Caste Census in 2011, which was the first attempt since 1931 to collect caste data nationwide. However, the caste data from SECC-2011 was never fully released or utilised. Rejecting concerns that the caste census could lead to sectarian divisions, Makwana said, "This will not create any division based on caste. Rather, it will strengthen social justice." "It

Over 650K calls received on SC, ST atrocities helpline since 2021; UP leads

Over 6.5 lakh calls have been received by the National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) regarding the atrocities against SCs and STs since the launch of the helpline in December 2021, with nearly half of the total calls originating from Uttar Pradesh, official data showed. Of the calls, 7,135 grievances have been officially registered, and 4,314 have been resolved. The helpline, aimed at empowering members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), is operational round the clock in Hindi, English and regional languages to ensure proper implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. These complaints range from incidents of assault, social boycotts, caste-based abuse, land grabbing and denial of access to public spaces to allegations of police inaction in atrocity cases. "Many of the calls received on the helpline are related to inquiries, requests for legal guidance or reports lacking sufficient details to be registered

Kharge writes to Modi, demands all-party meet before caste census

In his letter to the PM, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge calls for an all-party meeting, suggests Telangana model for caste survey and asks for constitutional safeguards for state quotas

Karnataka govt to conduct census of Scheduled Castes from May 5 to 17

The state government has formed a single-member commission, headed by retired High Court judge Nagamohan Das, to gather empirical data on the 101 castes within the Scheduled Castes category

Telangana becomes first state to implement SC categorisation, issues orders

Telangana on Monday issued a government order on the implementation of Scheduled Castes (SC) categorisation, making it the first state in the country to do so officially, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Telangana government had earlier appointed a commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice Shameem Akther on SC categorisation, which made recommendations that the 59 Scheduled Caste (SC) communities be divided into three groups viz I, II, and III for the total reservations of 15 per cent in government jobs and education. "The following Act of the Telangana Legislature received the assent of the Governor of Telangana on 8, April 2025 and the said assent is hereby first published on the 14th April 2025 in the Telangana Gazette for general information," the GO said. The issuance of GO coincides with the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, architect of Indian Constitution. According to the commission report, group-I one comprising 15 socially, economically and ...

Received Rs 5,990 cr grants under SC, ST sub-plans in 3 years: J'khand govt

Jharkhand Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore on Monday claimed that the state received Rs 5,990.6 crore in grants under sub-plans for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) over the past three years since 2021-22. He alleged that the central government had reduced funding under the SC and ST sub-plans over the past decade, and the grants allocated to the state were meagre in proportion to the population of tribal and Dalit communities in the state. "In Jharkhand, the SC population is 39 lakh and the ST population is 86 lakh. Between 2021-22 and 2023-24, the state received Rs 3,515.11 crore under the ST sub-plan and Rs 2,475.49 crore under the SC sub-plan," Kishore said while addressing the media at the Congress headquarters here. He added, "A mere Rs 5,990.6 crore has been received over three years, whereas the state should have received at least Rs 10,000 crore for the special component plans, proportional to the SC and ST population in the state." Kishore further ...

Congress seeks law for SC, ST quota in private, non-minority institutions

The Congress on Monday demanded that the government bring in a legislation for SC, ST and OBC quota in private, non-minority educational institutions in the country. In a statement, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh noted that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports had recommended a new legislation to implement Article 15(5). Article 15(5) allows the state to make special provisions by law for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes, including reservation in educational institutions, both public and private, except for minority educational institutions. Ramesh said the Congress had during the last Lok Sabha polls committed itself to bringing legislation to implement Article 15(5) of the Constitution in private educational institutions. "In its 364th Report on the Demand for Grants for the Department of Higher Education, the Parliamentary Standing ...

Rahul Gandhi slams BJP over vacant posts in National Commission for SC

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday hit out at the government over key posts lying vacant in the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fill them up to ensure that it effectively fulfils the responsibility of protecting the rights and interests of Dalits. The former Congress president said the vacant posts were a manifestation of the "anti-Dalit mindset" of the BJP government. The commission is a constitutional institution and weakening it is a direct attack on the constitutional and social rights of Dalits, he said In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "Look at another proof of the anti-Dalit mindset of the BJP government! The National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which protects the rights of Dalits, has been deliberately neglected -- two of its key posts have been lying vacant for the last one year," he said. "This commission is a constitutional institution -- weakening it is a direct attack on the constitutional and social

Centre reviews PM-AJAY scheme, focuses on inclusive growth for SCs

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar on Saturday chaired a meeting of the central advisory committee for PM-AJAY scheme, reviewing its progress and discussing strategies for the socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities across India. The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PMJAY) is aimed at reducing poverty among the SC communities through various initiatives like the generation of additional employment and improving socio-economic indicators in SC dominated villages. The meeting saw the participation of state cabinet ministers, senior officers from states and Union Territories, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and representatives from key Union Ministries, including Finance, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Women and Child Development, along with NITI Aayog members, according to an official statement. Kumar emphasised the scheme's focus on the holistic development of SC-populated village

Backward classes form majority of Telangana's population: Caste survey

The survey reveals that Scheduled Castes make up 17.43 per cent of Telangana's population, while Scheduled Tribes account for 10.45 per cent

The changing face of the Dalits: Budget as a catalyst for empowerment

The biggest angst of Dalit groups is the issue of manual scavenging

Govt to take call: Supreme Court on SC/ST creamy layer, sub-categorisation

The apex court emphasised that the responsibility to act on this rests with the legislature and the executive

Andhra govt sets panel for SCs sub-classification after top court's ruling

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday appointed retired IAS officer Rajiv Ranjan Mishra as the one-man commission to look into the sub-categorisation within Scheduled Castes (SC) in the state following the Supreme Court ruling in favour of it. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has appointed Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, IAS (retired) as One Man Commission to enquire into the sub-classification within Scheduled Castes in the light of judgment of the Supreme Court dated August 1, 2024, said an official press release. The commission will visit the undivided districts of Eluru, Krishna and Guntur from December 27 to 30 to conduct meetings and receive representations from individuals or institutions familiar with the subject matter. Memoranda and representations can also be submitted in person or through registered post at the commission's office until January 9, 2025. In August, the top court had held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the scheduled .