CJI Gavai backs exclusion of creamy layer in reservations for Scheduled Castes

Chief Justice BR Gavai on Sunday reiterated his support for excluding the creamy layer from benefiting from reservations meant for Scheduled Castes.

Speaking at an event in Andhra Pradesh’s Mangalagiri, Gavai said that when it comes to reservations persons from privileged backgrounds, such as the children of Indian Administrative Service officials, should not be equated with those from the economically disadvantaged and marginalised communities, such as the children of agricultural labourers.

This denies “equality of opportunity”, Gavai said.

He referred to the 1992 Indra Sawhney versus Union of India judgement that introduced the concept of creamy layer for Other Backward Classes and stated that he believes the same principle should apply to Scheduled Castes.