Supreme Court Questions OBC Creamy Layer Benefits; Umar Khalid Gets Interim Bail, Vinesh Phogat Wins Relief from Delhi High Court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday raised significant questions over the continued extension of reservation benefits to economically and educationally advanced families within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
The court observed that families which have already achieved social, financial, and educational progress should reconsider whether future generations still require the protection and advantages provided under the reservation system.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan made the remarks while hearing an appeal challenging a Karnataka High Court ruling.
The High Court had upheld the exclusion of petitioner Raghavendra Fakirappa Chandranavar from OBC reservation benefits because he belonged to the creamy layer, as both his parents were government employees.
During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna questioned the logic behind extending reservation benefits indefinitely to privileged sections within the OBC community.
She observed that when parents achieve substantial educational and economic advancement, it naturally results in greater social mobility for their children as well.
Referring to highly placed officials, the judge remarked that if both parents are IAS officers, it becomes difficult to justify why their children should continue receiving reservation benefits.
The bench further indicated that unless the creamy layer is meaningfully excluded from the system, the cycle of reservation dependency would continue endlessly, defeating the larger purpose of affirmative action meant for socially and educationally disadvantaged communities.
The Supreme Court has now issued notice on the appeal and will examine the matter further in subsequent hearings.
In a separate development, the Delhi High Court granted three days of interim bail to former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, who is accused of the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots.
The relief was granted by a bench of Justices Prathiba Singh and Madhu Jain, who allowed Khalid’s temporary release from June 1 to June 3 under strict conditions and restrictions.
Khalid has remained in custody for an extended period in connection with cases linked to the communal violence that shook parts of northeast Delhi in February 2020. The court’s order provides him with limited interim relief while the larger legal proceedings in the matter continue.
Meanwhile, wrestler Vinesh Phogat received significant relief from the Delhi High Court after the court questioned the decision of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to declare her ineligible for participation in domestic competitions.
The court strongly criticized the federation’s approach and directed the formation of an expert panel to evaluate the matter objectively.
A bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that the federation’s departure from its earlier practice of allowing top athletes to participate in trials raised serious concerns.
The judges remarked that the conduct of the WFI “speaks volumes” about the manner in which elite sportspersons are being treated.
The High Court also directed the Central government to ensure that Vinesh Phogat is permitted to participate in the selection trials for the upcoming Asian Games.
The decision has come as a major boost for the celebrated wrestler, who has remained at the centre of intense public and sporting debate over the past several months.
