Madras HC to hear petitions challenging govt order for Vanniyar reservation in 10 days

The Madras High Court on Wednesday slammed the Tamil Nadu government for issuing an order regarding implementing 10.5 per cent reservations for Vanniyar communities in the state under the Most Backward Caste quota. The court further noted that it has no other choice than to stay it as the order was issued in urgency.

Legislation for 10.5 per cent reservation for Vanniyar communities in the Most Backward Caste quota was passed by the AIADMK government ahead of the assembly elections '21. After the DMK formed the new government under the leadership of Stalin, it brought forth the Government order to draw support from the community.

The first bench of the Madras HC, composed of Chief Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, was hearing a petition against the government order. The batch of petitions challenging the validity of the order shall be heard in 10 days, the bench noted.

"We will hear the batch of petitions challenging the validity of the reservation in 10 days. But if the government wants to implement the quota even before the court decides its validity, then we have to stay any such move," the bench said. Other communities in the MBC category registered several PILs in the Madras HC, challenging the GO. They argue that while the Vanniyar community would enjoy reservation to higher education institutes and government services, the other 25 castes under the MBC and 68 castes under Deprived Communities (DC) shall have to share the remaining reservation if the reservation for Vanniyars is implemented.

The court has directed the state government to get instructions from the authorities regarding the Government Order immediately.