Reservation politics

Published date08 November 2021
Providing reservation to a particular community without proper data is against the constitution. Since 1931 there has been no caste census in India. The Pattali Makkal Katchi, political arm of the Vanniyar community, made it a condition that the ruling AIADMK pass the controversial legislation for it to join the National Democratic Alliance.

The AIADMK government passed the legislation without any quantifiable data on caste wise population. Even the commission formed by the government to collect quantifiable data on castes had not submitted its report at the time the legislation was passed.

The only reliable information the government had was the Sattanathan Commission report of 1970, according to which the Vanniyar population was high in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu and low in the southern districts. In such a case, if 10.5 per cent reservation is given to the Vanniyar caste all over the State, it would prevent the other MBC candidates getting admission in educational institutions and securing government employment.

What is even more surprising was the promptness with which the Governor gave his assent knowing fully well the legislation was unconstitutional and bound to be struck down by the higher judiciary. The electoral alliance the AIADMK entered into with the PMK and the BJP did not help it retain power in the April election.

The new government formed by the DMK had to implement the impugned law in the current academic...

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