Reservation for Christians, Muslims: Notices to Centre, TN

Chennai, Dec 10 (UNI) Madras High Court today ordered notice to the Union and Tamil Nadu Governments on a writ petition, challenging the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Christian and Backward Classes Muslim Reservation Act, providing 3.5 per cent reservation each for BC Christians and Muslims in educational institutions and jobs.

Admitting a writ petition filed by a Coimbatore-based advocate M Loganathan, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice V Ramasubramanian, directed the Union Law and Justice Secretary and State Law Secretary to file the counter before the third week of January next year.

In his petition, Mr Loganathan contended that the Act was malafide as there was no urgency to show extraordinary concessions to one set of community.

The impunged ordinance contained various provisions, which on the face of the Constitution was liable to be struck down, he submitted.

Meanwhile, the Bench also admitted two impleading petitions filed in favour of the Act by the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam and Tamil Nadu Towheed Jamaat.

In their petition, they said their community had been practically denied reservation benefits because of their most backwardness and were unable to compete with the other communities included in the list of BCs.

UNI