• Supreme Court verdict (2024): Opened the way to ensure reservation benefits to disadvantaged castes within Scheduled Caste-Tribe (SC-ST) reservation.
• Old verdict: Decision given by a five-judge bench in EV Chinaiya case in 2004, which barred the creation of sub-categories for SC-ST reservation.
• Provision in Constitution: 15% reservation for Scheduled Castes; many states added sub-quotas.
• Constitution Bench of Supreme Court: A 7-judge bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud delivered the verdict by a majority of 6:1.

• Discussion on creamy layer: The need to implement creamy layer was also stated in SC; four judges agreed.
• Separate verdict by Justice Bela Trivedi: No need for sub-classification in reservation based on caste.

Creamy Layer:

• Creamy layer means people who are economically better off and are not eligible to avail reservation benefits.
• Income Limit: A certain income limit is fixed to decide the creamy layer.