Socially And Educationally Backward Classes

Socially and educationally backward classes, the expression 'socially and educationally backward classes' in Article 15(4) was explained in Balaji's case, AIR 1963 SC 649 to be comparable to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The reason is that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes illustrated social and educational backwardness. It is difficult to define the expression 'socially and educationally backward classes of citizens'. The traditional unchanging occupations of citizens may contribute to social and educational backwardness. The place of habitation and its environment is also a determining factor in judging the social and educational backwardness, State of Uttar Pradesh v. Pradip Tandon, AIR 1975 SC 563 (567): (1975) 1SCC 267: (1975) 2 SCR 761