最高法院命令政府回应要求明确排除富裕SC/ST保留福利标准的请愿。 Supreme Court orders government to respond to petitions seeking clear criteria for excluding wealthy SC/STs from reservation benefits.

最高法院已指示中央政府回应呼吁制定明确客观标准的请愿，将经济条件较优的SC和ST个人——被称为“奶油层”——排除在教育和政府职位的保留福利之外。 The Supreme Court has directed the central government to respond to petitions urging clear, objective criteria for excluding economically well-off SC and ST individuals—known as the "creamy layer"—from reservation benefits in education and government jobs. 法院援引2024年的一项裁决，确认各州有权对SC和ST进行细分，并维护奶油层原则，正在审查收集代表性不足数据和建立时限排除标准的请求。 The court, citing a 2024 ruling that affirmed states’ power to sub-classify SCs and STs and uphold the creamy layer principle, is reviewing requests to collect data on underrepresentation and establish time-bound exclusion standards. 政府的回应将在下次听证会之前作出。 The government’s response is due ahead of the next hearing.