Left parties support Karunanidhi, seek reversal of SC order

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's advocacy for taking on the judiciary over the Supreme Court's exclusion of creamy layer among the SCs and STs from the quota regime has generated much heat in the political circles with the Left parties asking for reversal of the judgment.

Talking to UNI, the Left leaders said they have already demanded legislation in the coming Winter Session of Parliament to annul the Apex Court's order on the Creamy layer among the SCs and the STs.

The Manmohan Singh government has come under increased pressure for taking on the judiciary over the "creamy layer" with Mr Karunanidhi asking the Centre to take steps for referring the case to a 13 or more judges bench.

The TN Chief Minister also shot off letters to his counterparts in other states requesting them to implead their states before October 30 to protect the existing quota regime.

CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said the anxiety shown by Mr Karunanidhi over the recent judgment of the Apex Court is generally shared by the Left.

"The government has to take concrete legislative measures to reverse the verdict of five member Bench of the Supreme Court about the creamy layer among the SCs and STs and on quantum of reservations in general," Mr Bardhan said.

CPI(M) Polit bureau and Rajya Sabha member Brinda Karat maintained that" we disagree with SC's understanding about exclusion of creamy layer among the SCs and STs. Let us not forget that these constitute among the lowest rung of social order. They continue to be discriminated.. so any pronouncement in contradiction with the spirit of the Constituion will be another act of injustice for them." In fact the Court should also dwell on the practice of untouchability still plaguing the country even after 59 years of independence." As far as the OBCs are concerned, we support the concept of exclusion of creamy layer with the condition that in case OBCs quota for non creamy layer is not fulfilled the creamy layers be included,"' she observed.

She demanded that the Court uphold the constitutional provisions for an affirmative action for the SCs and STs." In our opinion this judgement of the Court is not consonance with the constitutional safeguards for them." CPI National Secretary Shamim Faizi said Tamil Nadu has more seats reserved for various categories than the stipulated ceiling of 50 per cent that could not be reversed.

Mr Faizi, editor of the party Weekly 'New Age', said that to provide protection, the new legislation could be put in the Schedule 9 of the Constitution to stop" undue interference from the judiciary." "The Left parties feel that affirmative action like reservations in government jobs and educational institutions are necessary in view of the prevailing caste system," Mr Bardhan and Mr Faizi said.

The SCs, STs and OBCs have been oppressed socially for centuries that led to their economic and educational backwardness, this is not vice versa, the CPI leaders added.

Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devrajan said the apex court's order simply demonstrated against its" over- activism" as the Parliament is already discussing the whole issue. Besides the UPA government in the CMP is committed to provide social justice for the suppressed sections.

Mr Devrajan argued that reservations, however, should be based on educational and social backwardness and not on economic criterion which status could change from time to time.

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