The Supreme Court of India has recently dismissed a petition that sought to include Pasmanda Muslims in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. The court stated that the responsibility for adding a new caste or community to the reservation list rests with the government and the Parliament, underscoring the limited role of the judiciary in such matters. During the hearing, the advocate for the petitioners argued that Pasmanda Muslims should receive reservation benefits equally as other OBCs. However, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud pointed out that the court was being asked to make legislative decisions, which is outside its purview.

The court clarified that the designation of a community as OBC is not solely determined by caste but involves considerable sociocultural and economic factors. This was emphasized by Chief Justice Chandrachud, who raised concerns over the court's capacity to adjudicate which subset of Muslims is considered backward and which is not. He remarked on the complexity of the matter, questioning how the judiciary could delineate segments within the Muslim community based on their socio-economic standing and categorize them accordingly as OBCs.

This ruling carries significant implications for affirmative action policies in India, especially considering ongoing discussions about reservations for minority communities. By reaffirming the limits of judicial authority, the Supreme Court's decision could influence future petitions regarding caste classifications and reservations, reinforcing the notion that legislative bodies hold the final authority in such societal frameworks.