RS passed Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Rajya Sabha has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to include certain communities in the list of Scheduled Castes (SC) from 4 states. The bill seeks to amend Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 to include certain communities from Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala and West Bengal in the list. It also carries provisions for exclusion of certain communities from Odisha and removal of area restriction in respect of certain communities.

With this, both the houses of parliament passed the bill. Lok Sabha passed the bill on 15 March 2016 after it was introduced by Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Thawar Chand Gehlot.

The amendment to the Constitution Schedule Caste Order 1950 was done in accordance with the clause (2) of Article 341 of the Indian Constitution. Clause (2) of the aforesaid article empowers the Parliament to modify 1950 order from time to time.