• The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr. Krishan Pal Gurjar, on February 13, 2021.  The Bill amends the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.

• The Constitution empowers the President to specify the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in various states and union territories.  Further, it permits Parliament to modify this list of notified SCs.  The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill states that the Bill has been introduced to give effect to modifications proposed by the state of Tamil Nadu.

• The Bill replaces the entry for the Devendrakulathan community with DevendrakulaVelalar, which includes the communities that are currently listed separately within the Act.  These are: (i) Devendrakulathan, (ii) Kalladi, (iii) Kudumban, (iv) Pallan, (v) Pannadi, and (vi) Vathiriyan.  The separate entries have been omitted.  

• The 1950 Order also includes the Kadaiyan community within the list of notified SCs in the state.  The Bill creates a distinction for the Kadaiyan community based on residence.  The separate entry for the Kadaiyan community is replaced with the Kadaiyan community from the districts of: (i) Tirunelveli, (ii) Thoothukudi, (iii) Ramanathapuram, (iv) Pudukottai, (v) Thanjavur, (vi) Tiruvarur and (vii) Nagapattinam.  Members of the Kadaiyan community living in other districts are included in the DevendrakulaVelalar grouping. 

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