Tamil Nadu’s 10.5% Vanniyar Quota cancelled by Supreme Court

Editorial Comment

• Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Author of the Indian Constitution, had suggested that reservations may be continued only for 10 years; however, all party rulers ignored his suggestion and reservations have continued.
• Various State Governments and the Central Government must answer why this has been so.

New Delhi – Tamil Nadu’s quota in jobs and education for the Vanniyar community was cancelled by the Supreme Court, which called it ‘unconstitutional’ and a violation of the right to equality.

The Vanniyar community was given 10.5 per cent reservation in Government jobs and educational institutions through a law enacted last year. AIADMK Government had passed the Act in February last year, just before the model code of conduct came into effect for the State elections in April. The DMK, which came to power in the elections, implemented the quota.

(Reference : NDTV)

Supreme Court’s order upheld a Madras High Court order setting aside the quota handed by the AIADMK-led Government that was in power in Tamil Nadu at the time. It is a violation of Article 14, 15, 16 (Right to equality; Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth; Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment)”, said the SC on a batch of petitions challenging the Madras High Court ruling. .

Petitioners argued that the High Court decision was ‘erroneous in law’ and that a State legislature has the power to provide quota to bring a community into the mainstream. Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) party founder S. Ramadoss had submitted that legislation unanimously passed by the State legislature enjoyed the presumption of constitutionality.