A nationwide Bandh (Shutdown) has been announced by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti on 21 August as a mark of protest against the Supreme Court ruling on sub-classification for Reservations.

Various groups advocating rights of SC/STs across states, specially Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, have advocated this Bandh. As per media reports, the police in various states have been asked to deploy additional personnel to ensure that there is no untoward incident affecting law and order and that the protest is carried out safely.

In Udaipur, the Aarakshan (Reservation) Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called on all members of various SC/ST communities and organisations to reach Dr Ambedkar Circle (Court Chauraha) at 11am on 21 August, with the Jai Bhim/Jai Johar flag. The organisation has called for all businesses, business organisations establishments, bus/tax/auto unions, handcart operators, tea/paan sellers, small shopkeepers, schools and colleges to close operations and support the Bandh.

After four days of tension in the city due to the stabbing incident and subsequent death of the victim, how Udaipur will react to another day of shutdown, remains to be seen.

About the Supreme Court Order

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had ruled 6–1 in favor of allowing states to sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/STs) into groups based on backwardness and implement the creamy layer within the SC/ST community. The ruling allows states to create sub-quotas to provide greater protection to the most backward communities within these categories and provide them more preferential treatment in public employment and education. This judgement is contrary to and overturns the Apex Court's 2004 decision in E.V. Chinnaiah v State of Andhra Pradesh, which stated that the SC/ST list was a "homogenous group" that could not be further divided. The court's findings also include: 

• States cannot exclude others when providing reservation benefits to the most backward classes. 
• Sub-categorization can be tailored by establishing criteria.
• The state's role is to provide reservations and eliminate social backwardness.