Marital status and winding road to OBC certification

The petition challenged the prevailing norm in the Capital where OBC certificates are issued only based on paternal lineage

Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court agreed to examine whether children of single mothers belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are entitled to community certificates that would enable them to access reservation benefits. The matter, which has important ramifications for gender justice and equitable access to affirmative action, has the support of the Union government, albeit with caveats.

The current debate follows a precedent set by the Supreme Court in Rameshbhai Dabhai Naika Vs State of Gujarat (2012), where the court ruled that a child’s caste is not irrevocably tied to the father’s identity. (Representational image)

The Centre, in its June 9 response to a petition filed before the apex court, said it was not opposed to extending