RONKI RAM Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN the year 1979 -80 an amount of Rs. 28.00 lacs was provided for construction of houses for persons working as Sweepers, Scavengers and tanners etc. The petitioners, who admittedly belong to the category of Scheduled Castes (Bazigar and Sikligar by caste) claim that all members of Scheduled Castes form one class and their exclusion which is based on instructions dated October 12, 1965 (annexure P -1) is violative of Articles 14 and 341 of the Constitution of India.

(2.) MR . P. C. Goyal, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that in accordance with the provisions of Article 341 of the Constitution, the list of Scheduled Castes in the State of Punjab has been duly notified. He contends that the members of all the castes included in the schedule have a right to be treated alike and that their classification on the basis of 'clean' and 'unclean' occupation is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents point out that vide letter dated October 12, 1965, the class of persons doing the work of Scavenging, flawing skins, tanning leather, collection of bones of dead animals and country -shoe making have been specifically classified as Scheduled Castes (unclean). In pursuance of these instructions, the Government had sanctioned a sum of Rs. 28.00 lacs for the construction of houses for the persons engaged in the aforementioned professions. This, according to the learned counsel for the respondents, is in strict conformity to the provisions of the Constitution.

(3.) ACCORDINGLY , I find no merit in this petition. It is dismissed. In the circumstances of the case, the parties are left to bear their own costs. Petition dismissed.