Supreme Court's 7-judge bench upholds internal reservation for Arunthathiyars in Tamil Nadu. Activists in Coimbatore celebrate the verdict, distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
Coimbatore: The Supreme Court of India has upheld the internal reservation for Arunthathiyars in Tamil Nadu, a decision that has been celebrated by activists in Coimbatore. The verdict, delivered by a 7-judge bench led by Chief Justice Chandrachud, states that internal reservation does not violate Article 14 of the Constitution.
In 2009, the DMK government under former Chief Minister Karunanidhi had issued an order providing 3% internal reservation for Arunthathiyars. This was challenged in the Supreme Court, and in 2020, a 5-judge bench ruled that the Tamil Nadu government's Arunthathiyar internal reservation law was valid.
However, due to a conflicting 2004 judgment in an Andhra Pradesh case that prohibited internal reservations, this case was referred to a larger 7-judge bench. Similar cases from Punjab and Haryana were also referred to the larger bench. The latest verdict clarifies that internal reservation does not violate constitutional provisions and that no sub-divisions within Scheduled Castes have been excluded from the SC category definition.
In response to this landmark judgment, activists in Gandhipuram, Coimbatore, organized a celebration. Led by K. Ramakrishnan, General Secretary of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, supporters distributed sweets and burst firecrackers to express their joy.
The event saw participation from various organizations, including Ravikumar from Adhi Tamilar Peravai, Senthil from Dravidar Tamilar Katchi, Malaravan from Puratchi Kalaga Munnani, Kamaraj from Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, and Kovilpillai, among others.
In 2009, the DMK government under former Chief Minister Karunanidhi had issued an order providing 3% internal reservation for Arunthathiyars. This was challenged in the Supreme Court, and in 2020, a 5-judge bench ruled that the Tamil Nadu government's Arunthathiyar internal reservation law was valid.
However, due to a conflicting 2004 judgment in an Andhra Pradesh case that prohibited internal reservations, this case was referred to a larger 7-judge bench. Similar cases from Punjab and Haryana were also referred to the larger bench. The latest verdict clarifies that internal reservation does not violate constitutional provisions and that no sub-divisions within Scheduled Castes have been excluded from the SC category definition.
In response to this landmark judgment, activists in Gandhipuram, Coimbatore, organized a celebration. Led by K. Ramakrishnan, General Secretary of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, supporters distributed sweets and burst firecrackers to express their joy.
The event saw participation from various organizations, including Ravikumar from Adhi Tamilar Peravai, Senthil from Dravidar Tamilar Katchi, Malaravan from Puratchi Kalaga Munnani, Kamaraj from Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, and Kovilpillai, among others.