Parliament passes Constitution (SCs) order (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Parliament passes Constitution (SCs) order (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Parliament has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes(अनुसूचित जाति) ) Order (Amendment) Bill 2017 after it was passed by Rajya Sabha. It was already passed by Lok Sabha in March 2017.  The Bill seeks to amends the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964.  Key Provisions Modify (संशोधित करें) the list of SCs for Odisha: It makes castes Sualgiri, Swalgiri as synonyms to the Sabakhia caste in the list of SCs for the state. Modification of name of Pondicherry: It modifies name of the Union Territory of Pondicherry to Puducherry by incorporating changes in the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964.  Background Article 341 of the Constitution empowers the President to specify the Scheduled Castes in various states and UTs.  Further, it permits Parliament to modify this list.