Syllabus Section: Governance (GS Paper II)

Importance: UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains

Why in News?

Recently, T.N. appeals in SC to restore Vanniyar quota.

What is the Issue?

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

• The Most Backward Classes within the Backward Classes were identified in Tamil Nadu as early as in 1957, when they were considered equivalent to the Scheduled Castes, but without the factor of untouchability,

• The court said the quota was ultra vires to the Constitution and state government went ahead without any quantifiable datato support the decision.
• The recommendation for 10.5% reservation to the Vanniyakula Kshatriya was made in commensurate with their population as enumerated in a survey held in 1983 by the Tamil Nadu Second Backward Classes Commission.

Vanniyar Movement:

• Vanniyar are one of the largest and most consolidated backward communities in the state.
• They had raised massive protests in the mid-1980s demanding 20% reservation in the state, and 2% in central services.
• Their movement was backed by the Justice Party as well as the Self-Respect Movement.
• The agitation began in 1986 with activists sending hundreds of letters and telegrams to then Chief Minister M G Ramachandran seeking an audience.
• As there was no response from MGR and the then Rajiv Gandhi government, agitators started demonstrations in community strongholds, then went on to blockading rail and road traffic.
• Split of OBC quota: In 1989, the OBC quota was split into two: Backward Castes and Most Backward Castes.
• Vanniyars were categorised among the MBCs with 107 other communities, with 20% reservation.
• Three decades later, the state government passed a Bill, and the current government has implemented it with a Government Order ensuring 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars within the 20% MBC quota.

Source: The Hindu