SC categorisation Bill passed

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 1. The A.P. Assembly passed on Saturday a bill for categorisation of Scheduled Castes into A, B, C & D groups for ``equitable enjoyment'' of the 15 per cent reservation available to them under the Constitution.

The A.P. Scheduled Castes (Rationalization of Reservation) Act, 2000 replaces an ordinance promulgated by the Governor after approval of the President. The issue of rationalising reservation for 59 Scheduled Castes had caused much friction between the Malas and Madigas.The Bill, which was piloted by the Minister for Social Welfare, Mrs. K. Pushpaleela, lays down that 1 per cent of appointments or posts or seats reserved for SCs should be given to SC-A (12 castes), 7 per cent to SC-B (18 castes, including Madigas), 6 per cent to SC-C (25 castes, including Malas) and 1 per cent to SC-D (four castes).

The legislation is the outcome of a unanimous resolution passed by the Assembly earlier recommending to the Centre to permit the categorisation. A highlight of the debate was the sharp difference witnessed among Congress(I) members, Mr. J. C. Diwakar Reddy and Mr. M. Narsimhulu with the former describing the Bill as politically motivated and the latter condemning his stand.

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Section  : Regional
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