State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2024)
Sub-Classification Within SC/ST Quotas
On August 1, 2024, a 7-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered a 6:1 majority verdict in State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2024 INSC 562), holding that state governments have the power to sub-classify Scheduled Castes (and by extension Scheduled Tribes) within the presidential list for the purpose of reservations in public employment and education. The Court overruled its 2004 decision in E.V. Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh, which had treated the entire SC presidential list as a single, homogenous class impermissible of further subdivision.
- The 2004 E.V. Chinnaiah bench (5 judges) had held that the SC list under Article 341 constitutes a single indivisible group; any sub-classification would amount to tinkering with the Presidential list — a power vested exclusively in Parliament.
- The 2024 bench (7 judges) held that Scheduled Castes are not homogenous; historical discrimination has affected sub-groups within the SC list to varying degrees, and states may use quantifiable, demonstrable empirical data to justify sub-classification.
- The sole dissent was by Justice Bela M. Trivedi, who upheld the E.V. Chinnaiah position.
- The ruling expressly requires that sub-classification be backed by data — not political preference — and that no sub-group should be allocated 100% of the sub-quota (creamy layer principle may also be considered for SCs in future).
- CJI DY Chandrachud led the 7-judge bench; the judgment was delivered on the last day of his tenure as CJI.
● Tracked since March 17, 2026 · last seen May 12, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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