SC says parental income alone cannot determine OBC creamy layer status: ‘Not to create artificial distinction…’

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has clarified that the designation of 'creamy layer' within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category cannot be determined solely by parental income. The Court emphasized that the differentiation between children of public sector unit (PSU) and private sector employees and those of government servants is unjustified and constitutes hostile discrimination. This ruling reinforces the need for a more nuanced approach to reservation policies, ensuring that eligibility criteria do not create arbitrary distinctions among economically disadvantaged groups. The Supreme Court's decision comes amid ongoing debates surrounding social justice and equitable access to opportunities for various communities, as it seeks to uphold the principles of equality enshrined in the Constitution. The judgment is expected to have far-reaching implications for the implementation of reservation policies in educational institutions and government jobs, with a call for a comprehensive reassessment of how the creamy layer is defined and applied.