The State Of Punjab vs Davinder Singh

The Supreme Court addressed the constitutionality of sub-classification within Scheduled Castes under Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution. It held that sub-classification is permissible as a facet of equality, allowing the State to identify and address inter-se backwardness among Scheduled Castes. The Court clarified that Article 341 does not create a deeming fiction but rather delineates the inclusion and exclusion criteria for Scheduled Castes, thereby affirming the State's power to implement sub-classification for effective representation in services.