Madras HC quash 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars in Tamil Nadu

Context

The Madras High Court quashed the 10.5 per cent special internal reservation provided by the Tamil Nadu government to Vanniyars, a most backward caste (MBC). 

Point highlighted by Madras HC

• If 10.5 per cent reservation is given to the Vanniyar caste all over the state, it would prevent the other MBCs from getting admissions in the educational institutions and posts in the government employments.
• The candidates from Vanniyars would automatically get selected in the educational institutions or in the government employment without there being any competition.

Important facts about Vanniyar

• The Vanniyars are an MBC caste.
• They are particularly dominant in northern Tamil Nadu.
• They have political clout through the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), founded by S Ramadoss.
  • The PMK, initially claiming to represent working-class (pattali makkal) interests, grew into a largely Vanniyar party.
• Vanniyars have long demanded a separate quota, claiming that owing to their large population, they had been unable to compete for education or jobs within the pre-existing quota system.

Current reservation in Tamil Nadu

• At present, the breakup of reservation in the state stands at 69 per cent –
  • 30 per cent for BCs (including Christians and Muslims)
  • 20 per cent for MBCs
  • 18 per cent for SCs
  • 1 per cent for the ST community