Power to make changes in the SC list

Power to make changes in the SC list

Context: The Union government on Saturday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to group seven Scheduled Caste groups in the Tamil Nadu under a common nomenclature as “DevendrakulaVellalars”.

Concept:

• The bill to classify the community is based on accepting the recommendation of the Hansraj Varma Committee.
• Article 341(1) of the Indian Constitution gives the president the power to notify which castes in the country, and in specific states come under the category of Scheduled Castes.
• Under article 341 (2) of the Constitution the power to make changes to the SC and ST list lies with the Parliament and not state legislatures. Any change in the lists of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes requires a constitutional amendment.
• Only proposals agreed by both the Registrar General of India and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes are introduced as a Bill in Parliament.
• The criteria for inclusion in SC list are extreme social, educational and economic backwardness arising out of traditional practice of untouchability.
• Scheduled Castes   are   those   castes   named   in   the   Scheduled   Castes   order   of   the Government of India, promulgated in August 1950.