(Scheduled Castes)

Original Text of Article 341 in the constitution of India:

Article 341(1)- The President may with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a State after consultation with the Governor thereof, by public notification, specify the castes, races or tribes or parts of or group within castes, races or tribes which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to that State or Union territory, as the case may be.

Article 341(2)- Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Castes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any caste, race or tribe or part of or group within any caste, race or tribe, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.

Explanation of the Article 341 of the Indian Constitution:

Article 341 of the Indian Constitution along with Article 15 and 16, forms the basis of SC reservation in India and widens Social Justice in India.

Article 341 essentially pertains to the provisions for listing of Scheduled Castes (SCs). Only these castes which form the part of SC List formed under the provision of Article 341 can get SC reservation in India.

Article 341 Designation process

President’s role in SC Designation:

Article 341(1): the constitution of India empowers the President of India to specify, through public notification, the castes, races, or tribes deemed as Scheduled Castes in each state and union territory.

• The designation is made after consultation with the governor of the concerned state.
• This constitutional provision aims to safeguard the rights and promote the welfare of historically marginalised communities by ensuring their representation and access to affirmative action programs.
• Article 341 “Notification”: The Government of India in passed a Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, in 1950, listing all the scheduled castes using the above power. This notification gives us the SC list.
• Scheduled Caste is defined under Article 366 (24) of the constitution to be those groups or sub-groups that are deemed Scheduled castes under the provisions of Article 341. Thus, the above constitutional order is the only document that provides us the Scheduled Castes (SC) List.

Article 341(2): According to the constitution of India, only the Parliamentholds the authority to amend this list under clause 1 by including or excluding groups through legislation,

• Any such amendment must ensure that the criteria for inclusion are clearly defined and adhered to.
• Thus, any modification in the scheduled caste list, as defined in the Scheduled Caste Order of 1950, requires an amendment to this order, which can be done only by the Parliamentary law.
•  The Scheduled Caste Order of 1950 not only defines the scheduled caste but also shows the list of states where these Scheduled castes are listed as Scheduled Caste 

  Supreme Court Judgements on SC List :

  The Supreme Court of India has clarified upon the constitutionality of the amendments in the list of Scheduled castes under the following cases:

  Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Vichar Manch Bihar Vs The State of Bihar

  In the recent Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Vichar Manch Bihar vs The State Of Bihar on 15 July, 2024, the bench of Justice stated that “Any inclusion or exclusion of any caste, race or tribe or part of or group within the castes, races or tribes has to be, by law made by the Parliament, and not by any other mode or manner.”

  • • • The case arose from a Bihar government notification merging the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) of Tanti-Tantwa with the Scheduled Caste of Pan/Sawasi, allowing EBC members to claim SC benefits, challenge by Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Vichar Manch, Patna.

  About Tanti/Tatwa

  Tanti/Tatwa is a Hindu weaving and cloth merchant community in India. The community is mostly concentrated in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jaharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Odisha. The Bihar Government argued that Tantwa” were one and the same as ‘Pan/Sawasi’ except that they had the special title within the caste of ‘Pan/Sawasi’ and were being referred to as “Tanti-Tantwa” in the State of Bihar and, therefore, it was not a case of alteration of the list but only of clarification. It is argued that they had undergone similar degree of historical marginalization in India. The Bihar Government has sub-divided the ‘Other Backward Classes’ to create a new category Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) to widen the scope of social justice. It is argued that the backward classes are a heterogenous group with several castes being more backward than others. Thus, Bihar Government decided to give SC status to the Tanti/Tatwa Community.

   

  • • • “The State government had no competence/authority/power to tinker with the lists of Scheduled Castes published under Article 341 of the Constitution,” stated Justice Nath.
      • Article 341(1): It mandates that the President, after consultation with the State Governor, may by notification specify the castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within castes, races or tribes which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to a State or Union Territory.
      • Article 341 (2): It adds that any amendment or, alteration or variation to the President’s List under Article 341 have to be made by a parliamentary law alone, and not by any notification.
      • “This would mean that neither the Central government nor the President can make any amendments or changes in the notification issued under Clause (1) specifying the castes in relation to the States or Union Territories,” the Supreme Court underscored.

  E.V Chinniah VS state of Andhra Pradesh

  In the year 2004, under the E.V Chinniah VS state of Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court stated that the scheduled caste form one “homogenous” group and, therefore, sub-classification within the reserved categories was impermissible,” would amount to tinkering with the Presidential list and violation of Article 14.

  State of Punjab vs Davinder Singh

   Later on, in 2020, under the state of Punjab vs Davinder Singh, a five-judge bench found that they could not agree with the reasoning in Chinniah as both the decisions were presided over by five-judge benches. They referred the case to be decided once and for all by a larger seven-judge constitution bench with the following questions,

  • • • Can there be sub-classification within the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for reservation benefits?
      • Does the Constitution of India permit states to introduce such sub-classification? 

  Finally, in February 2024, a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud began hearing a series of petitions regarding the validity of sub-classification of reserved categories vis-a-vis Scheduled Castes notified under Article 341 (2) of the Constitution.

  Article 341 Amendments

  Article 341 of the Indian constitution has never been amended since its enforcement. However, under the provisions of Article 341, notification has been passed by the President of India, which is officially known as the Constitutional Scheduled Caste order (1950)

  Article 341 SC List

  Editor’s Note: This Article 341 SC List has been provided to you for the information purpose. However, it holds no value from the UPSC Examination point of view. Nevertheless, one must understand the above provisions given under article 341 i.e. Article 341 designation process, President’s role in SC designation and Parliament’s power to amend the SC List.

   

  Official name as Scheduled Caste (SC)	States where caste has SC status (Year of Designation)
  Valmiki	Punjab (1950)
  Sisodiya	[Madhya Pradesh, Mostly Ujjain District]
  Sirkiband	Punjab (1950)
  Sikligar	Punjab (1950)
  Sarera	Punjab (1950)
  Sapela	Punjab (1950)
  Sansoi	Punjab (1950)
  Sansi, Bhedkut, Manesh	Punjab (1950)
  Sanhal	Punjab (1950)
  Sanhai	Punjab (1950)
  Pherera	Punjab (1950)
  Perna	Punjab (1950)
  Odh	Punjab (1950) Haryana (1950) Himachal Pradesh (1950)
  Nat	Punjab (1950)
  Meghwal	Punjab (1950)
  Mazhabi	Punjab (1950)
  Marija, Marecha	Punjab (1950))
  Mang	Maharashtra (1950)
  Mahar	Maharashtra (1950)
  Madiga	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Lingader	Maharashtra (1950)
  Lalbegi	Assam (1950)
  Kori, Koli	Punjab (1950)
  Kori	Maharashtra (1950)
  Kolupulvandlu	Maharashtra (1950)
  Khatik, Chikwa, Chikvi	Maharashtra (1950)
  Khangar, Kanera, Mirdha	Maharashtra (1950)
  Katia, Patharia	Maharashtra (1950)
  Kaikadi (in Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldana, Nagpur, Wardha and Yavatmal districts and Chandrapur district, other than Rajura tahsil)	Maharashtra (1950)
  Kaibartta, Jaliya	Assam (1950)
  Kabirpanthi, Julaha	Punjab (1950)
  Jhalo Malo, Jhalo-Malo	Assam (1950)
  Jalkeot	Assam (1950)
  Holaya, Holer, Holeya, Holiya	Maharashtra (1950)
  Holar, Valhar	Maharashtra (1950)
  Hira	Assam (1950)
  Halsar, Haslar, Hulasvar, Halasvar	Maharashtra (1950)
  Halleer	Maharashtra (1950)
  Ghasi, Ghasia	Maharashtra (1950)
  Garoda, Garo	Maharashtra (1950)
  Gandhila, Gandil, Gondola	Punjab (1950)
  Ganda, Gandi	Maharashtra (1950)
  Gagra	Punjab (1950)
  Ellamalvar, Yellammalawandlu	Maharashtra (1950)
  Dumna, Mahasha, Doom	Punjab (1950)
  Dugla, Dholi	Assam (1950)
  Dom, Dumar	Maharashtra (1950)
  Dhor, Kakkayya, Kankayya, Dohor	Maharashtra (1950)
  Dhogri, Dhangri, Siggi	Punjab (1950)
  Dhanak	Punjab (1950)
  Deha, Dhaya, Dhea	Punjab (1950)
  Darain	Punjab (1950)
  Dakkal, Dokkalwar	Maharashtra (1950)
  Dagi	Punjab (1950)
  Chenna Dasar, Holaya Dasar, Holeya Dasari	Maharashtra (1950)
  Chanal	Punjab (1950)
  Chamar, jatav	Punjab (1950)
  Chalvadi, Channayya	Maharashtra (1950)
  Byagara	Maharashtra (1950)
  Brittial Bania, Bania	Assam (1950)
  Bindla	Maharashtra (1950)
  Bhupi, Dhobi	Assam (1950)
  Bhuin, Kunbi	Assam (1950)
  Bhanjra	Punjab (1950)
  Bhangi, Mehtar, Olgana, Rukhi, Malkana, Halalkhor, Lalbegi, Valmiki, Korar, Zadmalli, Hela	Maharashtra (1950)
  Bhambi, Asadaru, Asodi, Chamadia, Chamar, Chamari, Ahirwar, Chambhar, Chamgar, Haralayya, Harali, Khalpa, Machigar, Mochigar, Madar, Madig, Mochi, Telugu Mochi, Kamati, Mochi, Ranigar, Ruidas, Nona, Ramnami Samaj, Rohit, Samgar, Samagara, Satnami, Surjyabanshi, Surjyaramnami, Charmakar, Pardeshi Chamar	Maharashtra (1950)
  Bedar	Maharashtra (1950)
  Beda Jangam, Budga Jangam	Maharashtra (1950)
  Bazigar	Punjab (1950) Haryana (1950) Himachal Pradesh (1950) Rajasthan (1950, grouped with Madari)
  Bavuri	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Bauria, Bawaria	Punjab (1950)
  Batwal	Punjab (1950)
  Basor, Burud, Bansor, Bansodi, Basod	Maharashtra (1950)
  Bariki	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Barar, Burar, Berar	Punjab (1950)
  Bansphor	Assam (1950)
  Bangali	Punjab (1950)
  Balahi, Balai	Maharashtra (1950)
  Bakad, Bant	Maharashtra (1950)
  Bahna, Bahana	Maharashtra (1950)
  Arwa Mala	Maharashtra (1950)
  Arundhatiya	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Aray Mala	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Aray Mala	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Anamuk	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Anamuk	Maharashtra (1950)
  Ager	Maharashtra (1950)
  Adi Dravida	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Adi Andhra	Andhra Pradesh (1950)
  Ad Dharmi	Himachal Pradesh (1950)
  Ad Dharmi	Punjab (1950)
  Ad Dharmi	Haryana (1950)

   

  For Further Reference:

  Read the constitution of India. 

  Constitutional Scheduled Caste order (1950)

  Scheduled caste list.