On Backward Classes List, Supreme Court Turns Down Centre's Review Plea

A five-judge constitution bench dismissed the centre plea that was filed in May, days after the Supreme Court ruled that only the President has the power to identify and add a community to the SEBC list.

The power that lies only with the President to add a community to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) list cannot be given to states, the Supreme Court has said, dismissing a petition to review an earlier ruling. A five-judge constitution bench dismissed the centre's plea that was filed in May, days after the Supreme Court ruled that only the President has the power to identify and add a community to the SEBC list. "The grounds taken in the review petition do not fall within the limited ground on which review petition can be considered. The various grounds taken in the review petition have already been dealt with in the main judgment. We do not find any sufficient ground to entertain this review petition. The review petition is dismissed," the court said in an order posted on its website on Thursday. The Supreme Court on May 5 upheld the 102nd Constitutional (Amendment) Act that led to the formation of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and took away states' power to add communities to the SEBC list for reservation in jobs and admissions.