The many faces within two Punjab SC communities who lent shoulder, funded the prolonged legal battle

As the national president of the Central Balmiki Sabha, Gejja Ram emphasized that the battle for reservation intensified over the last two decades, particularly following the Punjab government's 2006 Act.

The rush of Devotees during Balmiki Jayanti at sector 24 in Chandigarh, (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)

3 min readChandigarhAug 2, 2024 07:53 AM IST First published on: Aug 2, 2024 at 07:53 AM IST

For the Balmiki and Majhabi Sikh communities in Punjab, the Supreme Court Constitution Bench’s Thursday judgment allowing the states to sub-classify the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) to ensure grant of quota to more backward castes inside these groups, has come after a long, sustained fight.

Gejja Ram, a former chairman of the Punjab Safai Karmchari Commission, highlighted that leaders from the Balmiki community have been fighting for these rights since 1975. For the past 20 years, Ram himself has been actively involved in this struggle.

As the national president of the Central Balmiki Sabha, Gejja Ram emphasized that the battle for reservation intensified over the last two decades, particularly following the Punjab government’s 2006 Act [In 2006, the Assembly passed the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (Representation in Services) Act 2006, which, under Section 4(5), allocated 12.5% reservation to Majhabi Sikhs/Balmiki communities]. This adjustment aims to address the longstanding concerns of these communities, who have historically faced significant educational and economic disadvantages compared to other SC groups such as the Ravidassias, said Gejja Ram.

He pointed out that while the Balmiki community’s voting strength surpasses that of other Dalit communities in Punjab, their socio-economic status has hindered their ability to benefit from existing reservation policies. “Without reaching an adequate level of education, how can they benefit from reservation?” he asked.

Community leaders credited the achievement to the relentless efforts of numerous intellectuals and officers within the Balmiki and Majhabi Sikh communities. These individuals not only raised funds for legal fees but also worked to increase awareness about their cause.

Shashi Gill, president of the Pawan Balmiki Tirath Committee in Amritsar, said that his organization has been involved in this effort since 1992. “We have advocated for this issue across various platforms and raised funds to support our legal team,” Gill said, adding that several organizations from Amritsar, Ludhiana, and other parts of Punjab have contributed to this movement.

“There are several officers working in different government departments who came together and this coalition of leaders adopted a multifaceted approach, combining legal battles with community mobilization and awareness campaigns. They argued that the Majhabi Sikh community, due to historical and socio-economic disadvantages, deserved a dedicated portion of the SC reservation. The coalition’s fundraising efforts garnered support from within and outside the community, helping cover the substantial costs of legal representation,” said Gill.

Advocate Rahul Kumar from Hoshiarpur, who has been actively involved in this case, stated that the verdict upholds the spirit of the Constitution.

In the towns and villages of Punjab, intellectuals worked to educate people on their rights and the intricacies of the reservation system.

“After years of relentless effort, the legal and advocacy campaigns began to bear fruit. The courts acknowledged the merit of the coalition’s arguments and the legitimate grievances of the Majhabi Singh community. Gradually, the state government was compelled to review and adjust the reservation policies, leading to the landmark decision,” said Gejja Ram.