Tamil Nadu government will consult legal experts and continue its efforts to ensure 10.5% internal reservation for the Vanniyars within the 20% MBC quota, said Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan on Thursday.
Reacting to the order of the Supreme Court upholding the quashing of 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyakula Kshatriya community, he said though the Supreme Court was in agreement with a State government’s right to ensure internal reservation, it had quashed the reservation on the ground that it had been granted without substantial basis and the recommendations of the Backward Classes Commission had been made with antiquated data.
He pointed out that the internal reservation for the Arundathiyars (within the Scheduled Caste quota) and the Muslims (within Backward Classes quota), granted by the DMK government led by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi stood the scrutiny of the courts as it was supported by necessary data.
“Since the erstwhile AIADMK government granted reservation in a hurried manner for Vanniyars without data and with an eye on the [Assembly] election, the Supreme Court has quashed it. It has happened even though the DMK government appointed senior counsels [to represent the State] and took every effort to win the case,” Mr. Duraimurugan added in a statement.
