Chennai, Nov 8( BPNS)
The demand for caste census has grown in Tamil Nadu after the Madras High court struck down the 10.5% reservation for the Vanniyar community under the Most Backward Classes (MBC) quota.
Madras High Court had quashed the internal reservation to the Vanniyar community as there were no quantifiable data available with the state government in support of the extreme backwardness of the Vanniyars- a reason put forward for providing the community 10.5% internal reservation.
Advocate Padanabhan Rajashekharan, a leading advocate in the Madras high court while speaking to IANS said, “ There are no proper quantifiable data available that shows as to why Vanniyar community be given reservation within the Most Backward Classes
(MBC) and unless you have supporting documents to substantiate the claim court cannot justify and hence the quashing of the order.”
He also said that the Madras High Court quashing the international reservation need not be read as it was against giving reservations to the Vanniyar community but instead it wanted proper reasoning as to why this reservation is given.
A retired judge from the Madras High Court who does not prefer to be named while speaking to IANS said,” The caste survey is imminent in Tamil Nadu, and only then will the government be able to substantiate the reason for providing 10.5% reservation. If caste survey is not conducted soon, then it would affect the 69% reservation for Most Backward Classes also.”
It may be noted that the previous AIADMK government had appointed a commission headed by Retired Justice, A.Kulashekaran to carry out a caste-based census. The commission had also presented a proposal to the state government to conduct two days of pilot survey on February 27 and 28 across the state of Tamil Nadu.
The commission also requested an amount of Rs 60 lakh as fee for the 20000 enumerators that it would engage. However after the DMK government assumed office, extension was not given for Justice Kulashekaran commission.
The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) which is a prominent political party of the Vanniyar community demanded that 10.5% internal reservation be restored to the Vanniyar community and to the MDMK immediately. PMK founder leader, Dr. S. Ramadoss said that the high court had questioned the sanctity of the 69% reservation for MBCs also.
The towering leader of the PMK said that the questions raised by the Madras High court were not new and that these questions were deliberated and discussed.
The PMK leader exhorted his party cadres to be prepared for long political and legal battles against the Madras High Court verdict.
Meanwhile a delegation of PMK leaders including its state president, G.K. Mani and advocate K. Balu met Chief Minister M.K Stalin and requested him to take immediate action regarding the same
The PMK leaders told IANS that the Chief Minister had promised them that steps were being taken to protect the 10.5% reservation for Vanniyar community members in government jobs and professional admissions.
PMK state president, G.K. Mani while speaking to BPNS said, “Chief Minister has promised that steps are being taken to restore the 10.5% internal reservation to Vanniyar community.”
The PMK leader also said that the party is for conducting a caste survey but however said that the 10.5% reservation to Vanniyars could be given on the basis of Ambasankar commission report and another report by Justice MS Janardhanan who was the Chairman of the Backward Classes Commission of Tamil Nadu.
