Creamy layer

Creamy layer is a term used in reservation system of India to refer to some members of a backward class who are highly advanced socially as well as economically and educationally.

In the Indian Judiciary, the concept was first introduced by VR Krishna Iyer in State of Kerala v. NM Thomas, and was developed in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India.

[11] The Supreme Court of India defined the "creamy layer", quoting an Indian governmental office memorandum dated 8 September 1993.

[20] In December 2019, the Central Government appealed in the Supreme Court against the previous order of applicability of creamy layer to the SC/ST quota.

[11] Union Government of India said that as per Babasaheb Dr B. R. Ambedkar's Constitution there cannot be any creamy layer in SC and ST Reservation and therefore it will not be implemented.