Patna: A nationwide strike, known as “Bharat Bandh,” is taking place across the country in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations. The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti announced the Bharat Bandh as a mark of protest against the SC’s ruling on SC/ST reservations.
The Patna Police baton charged the people protesting in support of a day-long ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Wednesday against the SC’s recent judgement.
#WATCH | Bihar: Police lathi-charge people in Patna as they stage protest in support of a day-long Bharat Bandh against the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on reservations. pic.twitter.com/5jEMQiagJJ
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024
#WATCH | Rajasthan: Shops in Jaipur shut due to the day-long Bharat Bandh called by Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti to protest the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on reservations. pic.twitter.com/91uLr51u8m
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) August 21, 2024SC/ST Creamy Layer Provision: ‘Bharat Bandh’ Rally In Gwalior-Chambal; 3K Police Personnel Deployed, Drone Surveillance To Avoid Violence (WATCH)
Impact Of Bharat Bandh
An atmosphere similar to lockdown is also being seen in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district. The people from the SC/ST community are monitoring by forming groups to make the shutdown successful. The police administration is also keeping a close watch on the area with full alertness so that no unusual incident takes place. The SC/ST people took out a procession from Kote Gate to the collector’s office.
The impact of the bandh is also being seen in Jharkhand’s capital city, Ranchi. The roads of Harmu Chowk, Kathal Mode, and Chapu Toli Chowk, have been completely blocked. The bandh supporters are protesting by burning tyres on the road.
देश की राजधानी दिल्ली में अनुसूचित जाति और जनजाति के द्वारा बुलाए गए भारत बंद के दौरान प्रदर्शन pic.twitter.com/qRwf74kKC2
— Ambedkarite People’s Voice (@APVNews_) August 21, 2024
The police are also on alert in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida where forces have been deployed in large numbers. The Joint Commissioner of Police of Noida, Shiv Hari Meena, said that the Police are conducting foot marches to ensure law and order is not disturbed.
बिहार भारत बंद के दौरान पटना में पुलिस वालों ने गलती से SDM को ही लाठी मार दिया…
#BiharPolice #BharatBandh pic.twitter.com/ii4OIj3vtq
— Ajaz Khan (@AjazKha34701261) August 21, 2024
“We are also taking care that the general public does not face any kind of problem. The police team is keeping an eye on the people creating anarchists,” he added.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Jayant Singh Chaudhary said, “The Supreme Court had commented, after which the Law Minister also clarified it in Parliament. The Cabinet has also clarified its opinion, so now there is nothing left.”
#WATCH | Delhi: Regarding the nationwide Bharat Bandh today in protest against the Supreme Court’s decision on SC/ST reservation, Union Minister Jayant Singh Chaudhary says, “Supreme Court had commented, after which the Law Minister also clarified it in Parliament. The Cabinet… pic.twitter.com/sPbde9tjrj
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024
About The Landmark Ruling
The apex court in a landmark ruling on August 1, ruled that states have the power to sub-classify SCs and STs and said that the authority concerned, while deciding if the class is adequately represented, must calculate adequacy based on effective and not quantitative representation.
The Supreme Court ruled by a majority judgement of 6:1, that sub-classification within the SCs and STs reservation is permissible. As many as six separate opinions were delivered in the case.
The judgment was delivered by the seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, which overruled earlier judgment in the EV Chinnaiah matter, which had held that sub-classification was not permissible because SC/STs form homogenous classes.
Besides CJI Chandrachud, other judges on the bench were Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Sharma.
Justice BR Gavai suggested that the state evolve a policy for identifying the creamy layer, even from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to exclude them from the benefit of affirmative action.
Justice Bela M Trivedi, in a dissenting opinion, said that she disagreed with the majority judgement that sub-classification within the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes is permissible.
