March 11 OBC creamy layer quota order would not apply retrospectively: Supreme Court
- On Friday, the Supreme Court clarified that its March 11, 2026, judgment on Other Backward Classes creamy layer status will not apply retrospectively, rejecting the Centre's request to delay implementation.
- The March 11 ruling invalidated counting parental salary income for creamy layer status under the 1993 Office Memorandum, which the Court labeled 'hostile discrimination' against Public Sector Undertakings employees compared to government officials.
- Justices P S Narasimha and R Mahadevan rejected the Centre's plea for a two-year extension, stating there was 'no convincing or reasonable justification' for deferring implementation governing the 2025 civil service examination allocations.
- Existing selections and appointments concluded before March 11, 2026, will remain intact, as the Court clarified the ruling does not entitle reopening of finalized cases or affect seniority.
- The bench granted the government an additional eight weeks to implement the judgment, emphasizing the state retains full authority to formulate future reservation policies in accordance with the Constitution.
20 Articles
20 Articles
SC upholds OBC creamy layer ruling, rejects Centre's plea
The Supreme Court on Friday reaffirmed its March 11 verdict, stating that a parent's salary or income from PSU or private sector employment cannot be the sole factor for creamy-layer exclusion for OBCs. The court also rejected the Centre's plea for prospective application of the judgment, clarifying that it applies to the parties involved and will not reopen concluded selections or promotions.
OBC creamy layer row: SC protects past jobs, promotions but leaves pending cases open
The Supreme Court has clarified that its March ruling will not impact completed appointments or promotions. Cases still pending will be examined individually by the courts based on merit and eligibility. The government expressed concerns that retrospective application could unsettle established positions and admissions. It sought two years to establish a uniform creamy layer mechanism across various sectors.
The Supreme Court has issued its decision on the OBC creamy layer. The court rejected the Center's two-year extension to implement its March decision excluding parents' salaries and agricultural income from the calculation. Previous promotions and appointments will remain intact. Service allocations for the 2025 UPSC batch will be based on the March decision. It has been granted eight weeks for implementation.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
