No provision for 'forward' quota: TN

NEW DELHI: “THE Constitution does not permit reservation for ‘forward classes’,” Tamil Nadu government said in an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Thursday. The DMK government’s response came on a petition filed by an NGO, seeking reservation for upper castes.

The affidavit suits the DPA in Tamil Nadu, where close to 90% have been brought under the reservation umbrella, but could mean trouble for the Congress, DMK’s alliance partner which has to nurture an electorate beyond Tamil Nadu, as it may face disaffection of ‘upper castes.’

The state government backed its decision to provide 69% reservation in government jobs and private educational institutions for the Backward Classes, SCs and the STs, arguing that the move was not guided by vote-bank politics. The stand taken by the DMK government goes contrary to the demands raised by parties such as BSP, BJP and even RJD on extending benefits of reservation to poor among upper castes.

While justifying 69% quota for Backward Classes, SCs and STs, the state government maintained: “The extent of reservation has been growing consistently, with the need of the majority of the people, and it has now reached 69%. About 88% of the population belong to Backward Classes, SCs and STs, and suffer from social and educational backwardness for many years. They have to be adequately provided with opportunities. The state has to make special provision for the advancement of socially and educationally Backward Classes of citizens and for SCs and STs.’’

“The adequacy of representation of the said people in the services under the state and in the educational institutions is a matter within the subjective satisfaction of the appropriate government, and the same will be in respect of their advancement,’’ the state government argued, adding, “The quantum of leap has to be decided by the quantum of gap to be covered.’’

“With a view to bringing about parity between the ‘forward classes’ and weaker sections of the society, the Constitution (93rd Amendment) Act, 2005, as well as the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in Private Educational Institutions) Act, 2006, were enacted,’’ the government said. “It’s not vote-bank politics,’’ it added.

“Vote-bank deserves no consideration as the above amendment was brought in with an intention of providing opportunities to the majority of the people of this country who belonged to Backward Classes, SCs and STs in the field of higher education, which has been denied to them for centuries together,’’ the affidavit filed by the DPA government contended.