Supreme Court Launches Historic SC-ST Reservation For Non-Judicial Staff, Sets Benchmark For Inclusive Hiring

New Delhi: In a landmark decision underscoring social justice, the Supreme Court of India has rolled out a reservation policy for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in direct recruitment and promotions for its non-judicial staff. Effective from June 23, 2025, this is the first time the apex court has introduced such a policy, bringing its own administrative practices in line with those of other public institutions and several High Courts.

A circular dated June 24, 2025, notified all Supreme Court staff of the new rules. According to the policy, 15% of posts will be reserved for SC candidates and 7.5% for ST candidates. The reservations will apply strictly to administrative and support staff — such as Registrars, Senior Personal Assistants, Junior Court Assistants, Junior Attendants, and Chamber Attendants — and will not include judges.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud’s successor, CJI Justice Gavai, played a pivotal role in pushing the reform forward. Explaining the decision, Justice Gavai stated, “If SC-ST reservations are already in place in other government institutions and many High Courts, why should the Supreme Court be an exception? Our judgments have long supported affirmative action; it’s time we reflect that principle in our administration.”

To ensure transparency, the court has uploaded a model reservation roster on its internal portal, Supnet. Employees have been encouraged to check the roster and report any errors for timely correction.

The policy will guide recruitment and promotions in various roles, including Senior Personal Assistants, Assistant Librarians, Junior Court Programmers, and technical support staff.

Legal experts and social justice activists have hailed the move as a “historic equaliser,” highlighting that it sends a powerful message on inclusivity and fairness from India’s highest court. Many see this as an institutional commitment to expanding opportunities for historically marginalised communities, fully aligning with the Supreme Court’s own judgments on affirmative action and equal representation.