Why in News?

=> The Bihar government withdrew the Scheduled Tribe status from the Lohar caste by issuing an order.

Key Points:

=> This decision has been taken by the state government after the decision of the Supreme Court.

=> It is noteworthy that in the year 2016, the Lohar caste in Bihar was removed from the category of extremely backward class and given the status of Scheduled Tribe.

=> The decision of the state government was challenged in the Supreme Court.

=> The Supreme Court in its judgment in Sunil Kumar & Ors vs State Government & Ors set aside the order of the State Government for the year 2016.

=> Under this decision of the General Administration Department, due to the inclusion of the Lohar caste in the Annexure Forest like other backward castes, now the Lohar caste will be given the same facilities as other castes coming under the Other Backward Classes.

=> Article 366 (25) defines Scheduled Tribes as such tribes or tribal communities or parts or groups of such tribes or tribal communities which are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes under Article 342 for the purposes of this Constitution.