In a historic move, the Supreme Court of India has, for the first time in its 75-year history, implemented a formal reservation policy for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in direct recruitment and promotions for its non-judicial staff. The policy came into effect on June 23, 2025, and marks a significant shift in the administrative functioning of the country’s highest court.
Judges Not Covered Under Policy
The reservation policy will not apply to judges, but to various staff positions such as Registrar, Senior Personal Assistant, Assistant Librarian, Junior Court Assistant, and Chamber Attendant, among others. Under the model roster system, all employees are to be classified into three categories — SC, ST, and Unreserved.
“Why should the Supreme Court be an exception?” – CJI Gavai
Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, speaking to Hindustan Times, explained the rationale behind the decision:
“If all government institutions and several High Courts already have reservations for SCs and STs, then why should the Supreme Court be an exception? We have upheld affirmative action in several landmark rulings, and as an institution, we must reflect those principles internally as well. Our actions should mirror our values.”
CJI Gavai emphasized that equality and representation are not opposing ideas, but rather principles that strengthen each other and advance the constitutional vision of India. He described affirmative action not as an exception to equality, but as an essential part of it.
Circular Issued on June 24
A circular issued on June 24 informed all employees and registrars of the implementation of the reservation policy. It stated that the Model Reservation Roster and Register had been uploaded on the court’s internal email network (Supnet), effective from June 23. The circular also invited employees to report any discrepancies or errors in the roster to the Registrar (Recruitment).
Reservation Quota in Promotions
According to the circular and model roster, SC employees will receive 15% reservation, while ST employees will get 7.5% in promotions — in line with the central government’s recruitment policy. However, applying this to promotions within the Supreme Court is a first-of-its-kind development. The move is being seen as a step toward inclusive representation in one of the country’s most powerful institutions.
Long-standing Legal Complexity Around Reservation in Promotions
The issue of reservation in promotions has been legally complex and controversial. In 2006, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in M. Nagaraj v. Union of India laid down stringent conditions for granting such benefits, making implementation difficult. Over the years, many state policies on promotional reservation were struck down by High Courts for failing to meet these standards.
Later, in 2018, the Supreme Court revisited the issue in Jarnail Singh v. Lachhmi Narain Gupta, where it removed the requirement of proving backwardness for SC/STs but retained the other two conditions: data on inadequate representation and administrative efficiency. The court also added a provision to exclude the ‘creamy layer’ from such benefits.
Historic Change Under a Historic CJI
This landmark policy change has come during the tenure of CJI Gavai, who is only the second Chief Justice of India from a Scheduled Caste background. The initiative reflects a judiciary that is gradually acknowledging the importance of social inclusion, not just in its rulings, but in its internal practices.
