The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday accepted the recommendations of the Justice Rajendra Babu Commission excluding traditional workers and fishermen and allied workers from the 'creamy layer' norm applicable to reservation for backward classes.
Accordingly, they would be eligible for reservation benefits without reference to their incomes.
Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan told journalists that the acceptance of the recommendation would result in the maintenance of status quo. The Cabinet had approved the Commission's recommendation that any change in the status quo should be effected only on the basis of the socio-economic study.
He said that the government would issue a circular clarifying the norms and procedures for issue of non-creamy layer certificates to members of the backward classes.
The Commission was appointed to recommend norms for determination of the high income groups (creamy layer) among the backward classes who were to be excluded from reservation benefits on the basis of a Supreme Court order.
