New Delhi: The Supreme Court dismissed a petition on Tuesday that sought direction to declare the caste system unconstitutional, NDTV reported.
A lawyer who filed the public interest litigation (PIL) in the top court submitted before a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that the caste system violates the Constitution and the right to equality.
However, CJI said that the Constitution, as originally drafted, refers to Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.
“Sorry, we are not inclined. Dismissed,” NDTV quoted CJI Chandrachud.
Protesting the Supreme Court ruling on SC and ST reservations, Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has announced a Bharat Bandh for Wednesday. The group is protesting the top court ruling that allows states to create subcategories among SC and ST to remove those who are economically forward from reservations.
Mint reported that SC/ST groups in Rajasthan have extended support for the bandh. In the state, the police have been asked to increase deployment across all districts. Police informed that instructions had been given to its troops to ensure law and order, Times of India reported.
Rajasthan DGP told TOI that they have asked their officials to organise meetings with groups calling for bandh and market association for cooperation. As part of the bandh, various tribal and Dalit organisations in Kerala announced that they would observe hartal on Wednesday. The hartal will be from 6 am to 6 pm. Wayanad district has been exempted from hartal in the wake of natural disasters. Meanwhile, public transport and the functioning of schools, examinations, etc., in Kerala will not be affected.