Question : Benefit of Reservation for SCs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2596
TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2021

BENEFIT OF RESERVATION FOR SCs
†2596. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether other castes have been included in the list of scheduled castes during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of castes that have been included in the list of Scheduled Castes till date;
(c) whether the Government has conducted or proposes to conduct any assessment to see whether the castes included in the original list of Scheduled Castes are not getting the benefit of reservation while the castes recently included in the list are relatively getting more benefit of reservation, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to ensure that the benefit of reservation reach down trodden castes included in the original list of Scheduled Castes, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)
(a) & (b): No community has been included in the list of Scheduled Castes during last three years. A total of 1258 castes/communities have so far been specified as Scheduled Castes.
(c) & (d): No, Sir. The Supreme Court of India in the case of E.V. Chinnaiah Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (2004(9) SCALE) has held that the castes etc. specified as Scheduled Castes under Article 341 of the Constitution is a homogeneous group for the purpose of the Constitution. The benefits of reservation are available to members of all such castes which have been specified as a Scheduled Caste in relation to a State/Union Territory. As such, the information in regard to the caste-wise benefits of reservation in various services under the Central Government is not maintained.
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