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India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Supreme Court introduces SC/ST reservations in staff recruitment for first time
ANI 01 Jul 2025, 23:46 GMT+10 New Delhi (India), July 1 (ANI): For the first time, the Supreme Court has introduced reservations for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes in its staff appointments and promotions. The policy has been introduced during the tenure of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, who is also the second CJI belonging to the Scheduled Caste community. The employees were informed through a recent circular that a model reservation roster has been implemented, effective June 23. The official circular issued by the Supreme Court Registrar on June 24 states, 'As per the directions of the Competent Authority, it is to notify for the information of all concerned that the Model Reservation Roster and Register has been uploaded on the Supnet and it is made effective from June 23, 2025. It is to inform further that in case of objections/representations raised by any staff member about mistakes or inaccuracies in the roster or register, they may inform about the same to the Registrar (Recruitment).' The reservation policy allocates a 15 per cent quota for SC employees and a 7.5 per cent quota for ST employees in direct appointments as well as promotions. According to the policy, the reservation benefits will be available to Registrars, senior personal assistants, assistant librarians, junior court assistants and chamber attendants. (ANI)
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Under CJI Gavai, Supreme Court Introduces SC/ST Reservation In Staff Hiring For First Time
Last Updated: Move marks a first in the court's history, with SCs getting 15% and STs 7.5% reservation in staff posts. The Supreme Court introduced reservations for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC) in its staff appointments, legal news website LiveLaw said in a report. The initiative was launched last month on June 24. LiveLaw in its report said the policy, which is first-of-its-kind initiative, has been introduced during the tenure of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai. Chief Justice Gavai is the second CJI belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. 'As per the directions of the Competent Authority, it is to notify for the information of all concerned that the Model Reservation Roster and Register has been uploaded on the Supnet and it is made effective from 23.06.2025. It is to inform further that in case of objections/representations raised by any staff member about mistakes or inaccuracies in the roster or register, they may inform about the same to the Registrar(Recruitment)," a circular released by the Supreme Court, accessed by the legal news website, said. According to an official circular issued to employees, the roster outlines reservation entitlements for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in accordance with prevailing government policy. The SC category will be entitled to 15 percent of sanctioned posts, while the ST category will have a 7.5 percent share. The model roster applies to direct recruitment for several designations, including, Senior Personal Assistant, Assistant Librarian, Junior Court Assistant, Junior Court Assistant-cum-Junior Programmer, Junior Court Attendant and Chamber Attendant (R). First Published: July 01, 2025, 16:54 IST
News18
a day ago
- News18
Struggle Of The Marginalised To Lodge FIR A Harsh Reality, Says Allahabad High Court
Last Updated: In the case, a Scheduled Caste woman was raped and her husband had to struggle for 13 days to get the FIR registered. In a significant judgment, the Allahabad High Court has acknowledged that social and economic disadvantage often dictates a victim's ability to access justice – especially in cases involving sexual violence. While upholding the conviction of a 70-year-old man for rape and house trespass in a criminal appeal against trial court's decision, the high court observed that the 13-day delay in lodging the FIR stemmed not from hesitation or fabrication but from repeated police inaction and the victim's marginalised status. The prosecution case was that in October 1996, accused Bhagwandeen allegedly entered the house of a Scheduled Caste woman during the night and raped her while she was alone with her two minor children. Her husband, a daily-wage labourer who loaded sand onto trucks, returned in the morning to learn of the incident. Bhagwandeen was on bail during trial, and upon his conviction, in the instant appeal, he was enlarged on bail by an order in 2011. He may have remained confined for about six months (in all) despite being sentenced for life for offence under Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act and rigorous imprisonment of ten years for offence under Section 376 of the IPC. The high court noted that despite the couple's immediate approach to the local police station on October 27, 1996, no FIR was registered until November 9. The husband, referred to in the judgment as 'R', had to seek help from a lawyer and ultimately submit a written report to the Circle Officer. The FIR was finally lodged based on that report. 'It is a hard reality of life that at times social and economic status govern the fate of citizens in such matters," the division bench comprising Justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Sandeep Jain said. 'Disadvantaged persons such as 'R' and 'S' may be made to wait and may thus have been forced to make many efforts to get their FIR lodged". While the counsel for the accused questioned the delay, lack of medical evidence, and absence of independent witnesses, the court held the victim's testimony consistent, credible, and unshaken through cross-examination. It also observed that washing clothes and not preserving medical evidence was understandable given the victim's financial condition. 'Clothing though a basic necessity of life, is very precious and it comes at a heavy price to the poor. Therefore, it is wholly natural and in that regard natural to expect that 'S' would have washed her clothes that she may have worn, at the time of the occurrence," the court remarked. On the issue of absence of independent witnesses, court said that in cases involving rape or other offences as well, independent witnesses fail to testify before courts for varied reasons. 'Suffice it to note, at present, civilization values may not have refined enough and may not be strong enough for courts to necessarily expect that independent witnesses would not fall prey to societal pressures and practices when approached by offenders," court noted, adding, 'Generally, people tend to walk away from the victim if not for any threat, only for the sake of personal convenience and comfort, or not finding time for courts, as a witness". The high court partially allowed the appeal, acquitting the appellant under the SC/ST Act as there was no evidence to prove that the crime was committed due to caste identity. However, it upheld the convictions under Sections 376 and 452 of the IPC. Taking note of the appellant's advanced age, the court reduced his sentence from ten years' rigorous imprisonment to seven years' simple imprisonment.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Will fight tooth and nail if any word is touched in Constitution: Kharge
Bengaluru: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that the party will fight tooth and nail if any word is touched in the Constitution. He was reacting to RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call to review the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble. Speaking to reporters at his house in Bengaluru, Kharge called Hosabale 'a man of Manusmriti'. 'He doesn't want the poor class people to come up. And what was practiced thousands of years ago, he wants the same to continue. That's why he doesn't like socialism, secularism and liberty, equality and fraternity,' the Congress president said. According to Kharge, this is not only Hosabale's line, but that of the RSS. Hosabale, while addressing an event on the Emergency recently, said that 'the preamble of the Constitution Baba Saheb Ambedkar made never had these words.' 'During the Emergency, when fundamental rights were suspended, Parliament did not work, and judiciary became lame, then these words were added.' The RSS leader said discussions were held on this issue later but no effort was made to remove them from the Preamble. 'So whether they should remain in the Preamble should be considered,' he added. Kharge said, 'RSS is always against the poor people, the downtrodden and Scheduled Caste and other communities. If they are so interested, they could have removed untouchability. They claim they are the champions of the Hindu religion. If they are so, they should remove untouchability.' The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha also said that RSS should deploy all its volunteers to make sure untouchability is removed and keep the country united. 'Instead of that, simply talking, making noise and creating confusion in the country--that is very bad, and we are against it. The party will fight tooth and nail if any word is touched in the Constitution,' said Kharge.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
In first, SC introduces quotas for court staff
For the first time in its history, the Supreme Court of India has introduced a formal policy of reservation in the direct appointment and promotion for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) staff working in the top court. The move, which took effect on June 23, 2025, marks a landmark shift in the internal administration of the apex judiciary, long seen as conservative on issues of affirmative action within its own institutional structures. CJI BR Gavai (PTI) To be sure, the reservation is not for judges. The policy covers a wide swathe of posts, including registrars, senior personal assistants, assistant librarians, junior court assistants and chamber attendants. The model roster classifies all employees under three categories: SC, ST and unreserved. A circular issued on June 24 to all Supreme Court employees and registrars announced the policy's implementation and outlined the modalities for its execution. 'As per the directions of the Competent Authority, it is to notify for the information of all concerned that the Model Reservation Roster and Register has been uploaded on the Supnet (Court's internal email network) and it is made effective from June 23, 2025,' the circular stated. The document also invited objections from employees in case of inaccuracies in the roster or register and asked them to direct such representations to the Registrar (Recruitment). This significant policy shift has come during the tenure of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, the second person from a Scheduled Caste background to rise to the country's highest judicial post. That the approval came under his stewardship adds both symbolic and substantive weight to the development, especially in a judiciary often criticised for underrepresentation of marginalised groups both on and off the bench. 'All government institutions and many high courts already have provisions for reservation for SCs and STs. So, why should the Supreme Court be an exception? The Supreme Court has delivered several landmark judgments on affirmative action, and as an institution, it had to apply it. Our actions must reflect our principles,' CJI Gavai told HT, reflecting on the rationale behind the internal reform. The CJI added: 'I have always maintained that equality and representation are not competing ideals but complementary forces that drive India's constitutional vision forward. Affirmative action is not an exception to equality but integral to its realisation. The endevaour sets the tone for a more socially responsive judiciary within its administrative remit.' As per the circular and the model roster now in effect, SC employees will receive a 15% quota and ST employees a 7.5% quota in promotions. These figures align with the central government's reservation norms for direct recruitment. However, their application in the Supreme Court for promotional advancement is without precedent. The development is a landmark moment, not just for the apex court's employees but for affirmative action discourse in India's highest institutions. Notably, it has come during the term of a CJI who has lived the experience of social disadvantage and now helms the country's top judicial institution, While the move may appear administrative on the surface, it also addresses a long-standing and politically sensitive issue in India -- the denial or deferral of promotion benefits to SC/ST employees due to legal hurdles and the court's precedents on the matter. Reservation in promotion has been a fraught subject for decades. In particular, a landmark 2006 Constitution bench judgment in M Nagaraj Vs Union of India laid down stringent criteria for extending such benefits, including quantifiable data showing backwardness of the group, data on inadequacy of their representation in public employment and compliance with administrative efficiency. These conditions made implementation difficult. In the years that followed, many state-level reservation-in-promotion policies were struck down by high courts for failing to meet the Nagaraj benchmarks. In 2018, the Supreme Court revisited the issue in Jarnail Singh Vs Lacchmi Narain Gupta, relaxing one of the three conditions -- governments no longer needed to prove backwardness of SC/STs. However, it upheld the other two: quantifiable data on representation and administrative efficiency. It also introduced the exclusion of the 'creamy layer' (the relatively well-off among SC/ST groups) from reservation benefits. This compounded the Centre's dilemma. The Union government, backed by some states, repeatedly sought dilution of these requirements, citing administrative roadblocks and stagnation in service for thousands of SC/ST employees. It also argued that reservations should match the community's population proportion, echoing the Supreme Court's 1995 ruling in RK Sabharwal Vs State of Punjab. But in January 2022, the apex court refused to soften the conditions, emphasising that adequacy of representation cannot be gauged with reference to overall workforce numbers or community population share. 'Before providing for reservation in promotions to a cadre, the state is obligated to collect quantifiable data regarding inadequacy of representation of SCs and STs…Collection of information… cannot be with reference to the entire service or class/group but should be relatable to the grade/category of posts to which promotion is sought,' the 2022 ruling held. The court also made it clear that only contemporaneous data, and not old or outdated statistics, would suffice. Against this backdrop, the Supreme Court's internal adoption of a reservation-in-promotion policy clearly acknowledges the institutional need for representation within the top court's own administrative machinery. By establishing a model roster and maintaining an updated register, the court has now taken the first step in ensuring internal accountability in promotions. Moreover, it may serve as a template for other constitutional bodies, such as the Election Commission of India or the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which face similar constraints in implementing promotional reservations without running afoul of court rulings.
