4 days ago
Bihar NDA Allies Clash Over SC Sub-Quota Policy
Two political allies in Bihar disagree about how job and education reservations should be shared among Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
Santosh Kumar Suman of HAM (S) wants these groups divided into smaller categories.
He says the most disadvantaged communities do not receive enough benefits.
His party says Mushahar people, including his family’s community, remain underrepresented.
Chirag Paswan disagrees with this approach.
He says Dalits still face social discrimination, even when they are educated or hold important positions.
The Supreme Court allowed states to create such sub-categories in a judgment on August 1, 2024.
The BJP says reservations should continue and that any changes must follow constitutional principles and evidence.
Santosh Kumar Suman of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) backed reviewing SC/ST quotas and creating sub-categories for the most disadvantaged groups.
Suman said quota review should expand benefits rather than end reservations, citing the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling.
HAM (S) said leading SC groups such as Ravidas and Paswan receive most benefits, while Mushahar communities remain underrepresented.
Chirag Paswan and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) opposed SC/ST sub-categorisation and creamy-layer exclusion, citing continuing social discrimination.
The BJP said reservations must continue while the sub-categorisation ruling should be assessed using empirical data and constitutional principles.
- Who
- Santosh Kumar Suman and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) support SC/ST sub-categorisation; Chirag Paswan and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) oppose it; the BJP is taking a cautious position.
- What
- NDA allies in Bihar are divided over reviewing reservation policy and creating sub-quotas within SC/ST reservations.
- Where
- Bihar, within the BJP-led NDA alliance.
- When
- The debate follows the Supreme Court’s August 1, 2024 judgment; the statements were reported without a specific date.
- Why
- HAM (S) says sub-categorisation would direct benefits to the most marginalised communities, while LJP (RV) says continuing social discrimination makes such divisions inappropriate.
Supports SC/ST Sub-Categorisation
Opposes SC/ST Sub-Categorisation
Distribution of quota benefits
Supports SC/ST Sub-Categorisation
HAM (S) says benefits are concentrated among leading SC groups such as Ravidas and Paswan and should reach more marginalised communities, including Mushahars.
Opposes SC/ST Sub-Categorisation
LJP (RV) says SC/ST reservations were created because of social discrimination and that dividing the communities could weaken their collective position.
Social discrimination versus internal equity
Supports SC/ST Sub-Categorisation
HAM (S) argues that sub-categorisation would address internal disparities and give historically neglected groups a fairer share of reservations.
Opposes SC/ST Sub-Categorisation
Chirag Paswan argues that discrimination persists even against educated Dalits and prominent figures, so social disadvantage remains the central issue.
Creamy-layer exclusion
Supports SC/ST Sub-Categorisation
HAM (S) supports reviewing the system to widen access to quota benefits, while the Supreme Court ruling’s supporters generally back internal equity.
Opposes SC/ST Sub-Categorisation
LJP (RV) opposes excluding a creamy layer from SC/ST benefits, maintaining that the quota is based on social discrimination rather than economic criteria.
Key facts
- Supreme Court ruling
- On August 1, 2024, a Constitution Bench allowed states to sub-classify SCs and STs to provide quotas to more backward castes within those groups.
- HAM (S) position
- The party supports reviewing quotas and creating dedicated sub-categories for extremely marginalised SC/ST groups.
- LJP (RV) position
- The party opposes both SC/ST sub-categorisation and exclusion of the creamy layer.
- BJP position
- The BJP says reservation must continue while sub-categorisation should be assessed using empirical data and constitutional principles.
- Bihar SC population figures
- The Mushahar and allied Bhuiyan groups account for about 4% of Bihar’s SC population, compared with 5.3% for Ravidas and 5.2% for Paswan.
- Alliance representation
- LJP (RV) has 19 Bihar MLAs and five Lok Sabha MPs; HAM (S) has five Bihar MLAs and one MP.
- HAM (S) criticism
- The party says the Mahadalit framework has not eliminated internal disparities despite categorising 18 of 22 SC groups as Mahadalits in 2008.
Quotes
Santosh Kumar Suman
President of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Bihar Minister for Minor Water Resources
“We are in favour of SC/ST sub-categorisation. We are simply asking for a review of the SC/ST quotas. We want quota benefits to reach the least privileged among us. What we are saying is in sync with what the Supreme Court has already said.”
indianexpress.com
“We have been against both the SC/ST sub-categorisation and removal of creamy layer for the simple reason that quotas for the SCs/STs were given on the basis of their untouchability or social discrimination and not on economic criteria.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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