Steps to provide 3 pc quota for Arunthathiyars: MK

Chennai, Nov 23: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said legal steps would be taken to provide three per cent exclusive reservation for Arunthathiyars from the 18 per cent quota given to the Scheduled Castes (SCs).

Mr Karunanidhi's announcement comes a day after State Backward Classes Commission Chairman and retired High Court Judge M S Janardhanam submitted his report to the State Government on providing separate reservation for Arunthathiyars.

Mr Janardhanam had met the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat and submitted the report.

Arunthathiyars, a sub-caste of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), had been demanding six per cent reservation based on their population from the 18 per cent quota for the SCs.

Accepting their request and after studying the Janardhanam Committee report, Mr Karunanidhi said the government would take legal steps to provide three per cent exclusive reservation for Arunthathiyars, an official release said.

Mr Karunanidhi also penned a poem hailing the report of Justice Janardhanam for recommending quota for Arunthathiyars and expressed his commitment to ensure social justice by also removing manual scavengers.

UNI