Supreme Court Upholds Scheduled Caste Reservation Criteria in Landmark Verdict

In a landmark constitutional ruling, the Supreme Court of India upheld the existing framework that restricts Scheduled Caste (SC) status to members of the Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist faiths. The five-judge constitution bench delivered a 4-1 majority verdict, dismissing petitions that sought to extend SC status to Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, writing for the majority, stated that the Presidential Order under Article 341 "reflects a considered policy decision by the executive and legislature" and that the court cannot substitute its own judgment in matters of social classification that require empirical data and political consensus.

The dissenting opinion, delivered by Justice BV Nagarathna, argued that the blanket exclusion based on religion alone violated Articles 14 and 25 of the Constitution and called for Parliament to re-examine the criteria through a dedicated commission.

Legal experts say the ruling could have significant implications for upcoming state elections, particularly in southern India where Dalit Christian communities form a substantial voter base.