Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Cabinet
01-February-2017 11:34 IST
Cabinet approves Amendments in (i) the Constitution (Scheduled
Castes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Castes of the State
of Odisha, and (ii) the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes
Order, 1964 to change name of the Union Territory from Pondicherry to
Puducherry in the Order
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has
given its approval for amendments in (i) the Constitution (Scheduled
Castes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Castes of the State
of Odisha, and (ii) the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes
Order, 1964 so as to change name of the Union Territory from Pondicherry
to Puducherry in the Order. The Bill namely Constitution (Scheduled
Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2017 incorporating the above changes
will be introduced in the Parliament.
Proposal of Sualgiri, Swalgiri caste, as per approved Modalities, was
found to be eligible for its inclusion as a synonym of Sabakhia caste at
SI. No. 79 in the list of Scheduled Castes of Odisha. Further, the name
of Union territory of Pondicherry has been changed to Puducherry vide
the Pondicherry (Alteration of name) Act, 2006 w.e.f. 01.10.2006.
Accordingly, an amendment is needed in the Constitution (Pondicherry)
Scheduled Castes Order, 1964 to this effect.
The Government approved Modalities in June 1999, as amended in June
2002, for considering proposals in regard to modifications in the lists
of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. According to the approved
Modalities, amending legislation to the concerned Constitution Order is
proposed only in respect of such proposals of the concerned State
Government/Union Territory Administration, which have been agreed to
both by the Registrar General of India (RGI) as well as the National
Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
The Constitution of India provides certain privileges / concessions to
the members of Scheduled Castes which are notified under the provisions
of Article 341 of the Constitution of India. First list of Scheduled
Castes in relation to a State or Union Territory is to be issued by a
notified Order of the President after having consultation with the State
Government concerned. Any subsequent inclusion in or exclusion from the
list of Scheduled Castes can be effected through an Act of Parliament
as envisaged under clause (2) of Article 341.
Six Presidential Orders were issued between 1950 and 1978 for specifying
Scheduled Castes in respect of various States/Union territories. These
Orders have been amended from time to time by Acts of Parliament enacted
as per Article 341(2) of the Constitution between 1956 and 2016.
After the Bill becomes an Act, members of the community included in the
list of Scheduled Castes will be able to derive benefits meant for
Scheduled Castes under the existing schemes. Some of the major schemes
of this kind include Post Matric Scholarship, National Overseas
Scholarship, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, Top Class Education,
Concessional Loans from National Scheduled Castes Finance and
Development Corporation, Hostels for SC Boys and Girls etc. In addition
to above, they are also entitled to the benefits of reservation in
services and admission to educational institutions.
