Bharat Bandh on August 21: Who issued the nationwide shutdown call, and why? All you need to know

Bharat Bandh on August 21 Latest Update: The SC-ST Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti, an umbrella body representing various SC and ST groups, has called for a 'Bharat Bandh', or nationwide shutdown over the Supreme Court of India's ruling on reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

The nationwide shutdown has been called to demand a reversal of the top court's order. According to media reports, the SC/ST groups in Rajasthan have extended their support for the bandh.

In view of a possible shutdown, top police officials, including divisional commissioners, district magistrates (DMs), and senior police officers, held a meeting via video-conferencing to evaluate preparation for the bandh.

SC allows sub-classification in SC, ST for quota

A seven-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, in a 6:1 majority, allowed states to further sub-classify SCs/STs to ensure the grant of quotas to more backward castes inside these groups.

The bench, also comprising Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra and SC Mishra, delivered six separate judgments.

The majority verdict said the basis of sub-classification has to be justified by "quantifiable and demonstrable data by the states, which cannot act on its whims".

The bench was hearing petitions seeking a review of the EV Chinnaiah judgement, which in 2004 had ruled that all Scheduled Castes communities that suffered ostracisation, discrimination and humiliation for centuries depicted a homogeneous class incapable of being sub-categorised.