By M. Rajanikanth | Bureau Chief
Hyderabad: The Telangana government has taken a landmark decision to implement the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs), becoming the first state in India to do so following the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Punjab State Government vs. Davinder Singh case (August 1, 2024).
A Cabinet Sub-Committee was formed on September 12, 2024, to study the legal implications and execution strategy. The committee engaged in extensive consultations and recommended the formation of a one-member Judicial Commission under Dr. Justice Shamim Akhtar, which was constituted on October 11, 2024.
The commission, after an 82-day study, submitted its report on February 3, 2025. The 199-page report detailed disparities among 59 SC sub-castes and recommended their classification into three groups to ensure equitable reservation benefits. It also proposed a preferential model for filling vacancies and the introduction of a creamy layer to exclude affluent SC individuals from reservation benefits.
The Telangana government accepted the key recommendations on classification and equitable vacancies but rejected the creamy layer provision, ensuring continued reservation benefits for all SC groups.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fair representation for SC communities. With this decision, Telangana sets a precedent for other states to follow in ensuring social justice through structured sub-categorization.
