While Muslims were removed from the 2B Backward Class category (which they had been made a part of in 1994) through the March 27 order, Christians and Jains are classified under the 2D category.
Affirmative action to improve educational and economic opportunities for the under-represented is justified. But analysis shows that the poor among the different socio-religious groups are not similar.
Extending reservations to the 'upper castes' who are poor or singly disadvantaged delegitimises the concept of double disadvantage: social marginalisation and economic ill-being.
The majority rulings have sanctioned a forward-caste only quota, endorsing the reactionary idea that the extending of reservations to SCs/STs and OBCs have somehow resulted in injustice to forward castes who may not be equally well off.