Tamil Nadu: DMK, VCK, PMK, AMMK Unhappy With EWS Quota Judgement

A number of Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu have expressed their displeasure with the Supreme Court judgement on the 10 per cent quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and called it "a setback to the state’s century-old fight in favour of social justice."

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was one of the petitioners that had challenged the quota in the Supreme Court. Chief Minister and DMK party president MK Stalin has called for an all-party meeting on 12 November to discuss the issue.

Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan declared that his party would file a review petition in the Supreme Court and request a hearing by a larger bench.

Other parties that have opposed the judgement include the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) of Anbumani Ramadoss and Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazhagam (AMMK) of TTV Dhinakaran.

Dhinakaran asked Stalin to ensure that the 69 per cent reservation system, that is unique to the state, remains intact.

Under the 69 per cent quota system, the breakup is as follows— 30 per cent-Backward Castes (BC), 20 per cent Most Backward Castes(MBC), 18 per cent- Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 1 per cent- Scheduled Tribes (STs).

A petition against this system is pending before the Supreme Court, which Justice S Ravindra Bhat referred to in his judgement.

He said that by allowing the 10 per cent EWS quota, over and above the 50 per cent ceiling stipulated by the Indra Sawhney judgement, the Court was effectively making infructuous the petition challenging the 69 per cent reservation.

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the verdict while its ally the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Congress and the Left parties have been silent.

Thirumavalavan urged the Congress and the Left parties to change their stance and support the Dravidian parties fight against the EWS quota.

While Tamil Nadu has not implemented the EWS quota at the state level, EWS certificates are being issued for domains under the purview of the central like the NEET exam and central government jobs.

Also Read: Reservations: The Inclusionary RSS View Vs The Hate-Driven, Exclusionary View Of The Dravidianists