In Brief
This case involved multiple consolidated civil appeals concerning the interpretation of constitutional provisions on reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) under Articles 16(4), 16(4A) and 16(4B) of the Indian Constitution. The core dispute centred on whether the test of backwardness could be applied to SC/ST candidates and whether the creamy layer principle could apply within SC/ST communities. The Court found these questions to be of constitutional significance requiring a full Constitution Bench hearing under Article 145(3) and remitted the matter to the Chief Justice of India for constitution of an appropriate bench.
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