CJI BR Gavai-led Supreme Court initiates historic inclusion of SC/ST quota in court staff for the first time since its establishment, effective June 2025.
Why in News
SC/ST quota in Supreme Court jobs introduced under CJI BR Gavai’s tenure for the first time .
Case Overview
In a historic step, the Supreme Court, under the leadership of CJI BR Gavai has introduced reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in its staff recruitment . The administrative circular, dated June 24, 2025, makes the Model Reservation Roster effective from June 23, 2025 . This marks the first time that such affirmative action has been implemented within the Supreme Court itself—during the tenure of CJI Gavai, the second Chief Justice of India from the SC community .
Key Aspects
The key aspects of the case are as under-
- Model Reservation Roster uploaded on internal portal Supnet .
- Effective from June 23, 2025, applicable to various non-judicial staff posts .
- Posts include : Senior Personal Assistant, Assistant Librarian, Junior Court Assistant, Chamber Attendant, etc .
- 15% reservation for SC and 7.5% for ST candidates .
- Staff may raise objections or report inaccuracies to the Registrar (Recruitment) .
Legal Insights
The legal insights relating to the case are as under –
- Article 16(4) of the Constitution : Empowers the State to make provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens not adequately represented in public services .
- Article 335 : States that claims of SCs and STs shall be taken into consideration in matters of employment in Union and State services, balanced with efficiency .
- Article 14 : Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of laws .
- Article 15(4): Permits the State to make special provisions for the advancement of SCs and STs .
- While the judiciary has traditionally been exempt from such quotas, this administrative policy aligns with the constitutional mandate of social justice and expands the scope of affirmative action in public employment .
- Supported in spirit by the ruling in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India, AIR 1993 SC 477, which upheld the constitutional validity of reservations in public services .
Conclusion
Though not a judicial ruling, this administrative initiative by the Supreme Court under CJI BR Gavai sets a precedent for Reservations in Supreme Court Staff Recruitment reflecting a move toward institutional inclusivity and constitutional equity .
Source- Supreme Court of India
Read also – Article 14 of Constitution
