Tamil Nadu's quota in jobs and education for the Vanniyar community was cancelled today by the Supreme Court, which called it "unconstitutional" and a violation of the right to equality.
The community was given reservation in government jobs and educational institutions within the 20% quota for the Most Backward Class category in the state.
PMK leader wants CM to clarify his position on Vanniyar reservation PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss on Wednesday said the State government should not present “unfounded reasons” against the 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars within the Most Backward Class quota, which was passed by the previous AIADMK government.
In a statement, he criticised the Minister for Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes and Minority Welfare S.S. Shivashankar for stating that the 10.5% reservation could not be implemented as there were cases pending in the Madras High Court.
“Tamil Nadu does not have a Social Justice Department. The Minister for Backward Classes has a responsibility to safeguard social justice,” he said.
How two big caste-based decisions of the NDA are playing out in Tamil Nadu polls
How two big caste-based decisions of the NDA are playing out in Tamil Nadu polls
Just hours before the Election Commission announced the election schedule, the Tamil Nadu assembly passed the Special Reservation Act 2021 that envisaged 10.5 per cent quota for Vanniyars in education and employment within the 20 per cent reservation for MBCs and De-notified communities.
advertisement
UPDATED: April 4, 2021 18:12 IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves at crowd during a public meeting in support of their NDA candidates for Tamil Nadu Assembly polls (Picture Credits: PTI)
Like every other state in India, caste plays a critical part in elections in Tamil Nadu. No wonder then that in the run-up to the assembly elections, the ruling AIADMK along with its partner BJP, took two significant decisions that it thought would ensure the die was cast(e) in its favour on 6 April.