Article 341

Published on 18 Mar 2025

The Supreme Court has held that States cannot tinker with the Scheduled Castes List notified under Article 341 of the Constitution. The judgement came due to a notification issued by the Bihar government in 2015 to merge the Extremely Backward Class of Tanti-Tantwa with the Scheduled Caste of Pan/Sawasi in the Scheduled Castes List. 

The merger would enable the Tanti-Tantwa to claim the benefits of Scheduled Castes.

SC said that any inclusion or exclusion of any caste, race or tribe or part of or group within the castes, races or tribes has to be, by law made by the Parliament

• Article 341 (1) -  The President can designate certain groups as Scheduled Castes in any State or Union territory in consultation with the Governor. 

• Article 341 (2) - Any amendment to the President’s List has to be made by a parliamentary law alone, and not by any notification.

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Indian judiciary judgments of SC Article 341 scheduled caste dalit