Opposition spreading misinformation on SC, ST creamy layer ruling, lateral entry: Arjun Meghwal

Aug 21, 2024

New Delhi [India], August 21 : Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Wednesday accused the opposition of spreading misinformation about the Supreme Court's recent judgement on sub-classification within reservation categories for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and on Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) lateral entry advertisements.
Speaking about the Bharat Bandh called in response to the Supreme Court's recent ruling on reservations, Meghwal told ANI, "Opposition parties are spreading misinformation. They have also created controversy over the creamy layer issue and lateral entry."
Meghwal praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to withdraw UPSC lateral entry advertisements, stating that it reflects the PM continuous efforts for the interests of SC, ST, and OBC communities.
"The advertisement for lateral entry was withdrawn till input of social justice comes. This means that Modi ji is continuously working for the interests of SC, ST, and OBC communities and will continue to do so in the future," Meghwal told ANI.
A nationwide strike, known as "Bharat Bandh," was held across the country in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations. The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti announced the Bharat Bandh as a mark of protest against the SC's ruling on SC/ST reservations.
The apex court in a landmark ruling on August 1 ruled that states have the power to sub-classify SCs and STs and said that the authority concerned, while deciding if the class is adequately represented, must calculate adequacy based on effective and not quantitative representation.
The Supreme Court ruled by a majority judgement of 6:1, that sub-classification within the SCs and STs reservation is permissible. As many as six separate opinions were delivered in the case.
The UPSC recently released a notification for recruiting Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry. Following criticism, Department of Personnel and Training wrote to UPSC asking to cancel the advertisement.