IndiaThe Gujarat High Court ruled that individuals who were previously recognized as part of the Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) retain their reservation benefits even if their community is later removed from these lists. In a judgment dated July 17, a division bench emphasized that changes to the SC/ST list can only be prospective and cannot retroactively revoke benefits already granted. The court stated that caste is 'thrust upon a person' at birth and remains until death, meaning those born into a scheduled caste when it was included in the list remain eligible for reservations throughout their lives. The ruling followed a case involving Ranjit Vasantlal Makwana, a member of the Mochi community who was initially granted reservation benefits but later faced reversal of his promotion due to a 2002 amendment restricting SC status to specific regions. The Central Administrative Tribunal had previously upheld his promotion, leading the organization to challenge this decision in the high court.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a legal interpretation based on constitutional provisions and judicial reasoning without overtly favoring any political ideology. While the issue of caste and reservation benefits is politically sensitive, the focus is on the legal framework and the court's interpretation rather
