It also opposed extending the “creamy layer” principle to SCs and STs, arguing that Supreme Court precedent has consistently confined the doctrine to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), as reported by Hindustan Times. The affidavit said that the identification of SCs, STs and SEBCs is based on historical and social criteria such as caste, tribe and social backwardness, and not solely on economic status. The Centre also submitted that the Nagaraj judgment did not lay down that creamy layer exclusion applies to SCs and STs. The Centre described the petitions as “misconceived” and submitted that they raise no enforceable constitutional or fundamental rights issue warranting the Supreme Court’s intervention. The government urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitions.