PMK leader S. Ramadoss on Wednesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to enumerate the Backward Classes (BC) in the wake of the Supreme Court order directing the State government to place before the Backward Classes Commission quantifiable data on BCs for a fresh determination of quota.
In a statement here, Dr. Ramadoss said the direction had provided an opportunity to fix reservation for the BCs depending on their population.
While allowing the continuance of the law that provides 69 per cent reservation for the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in jobs and education for one more year, the Supreme Court on Tuesday had asked the State Backward Classes Commission to revisit the reservation issue on the basis of the quantifiable data with respect to the communities in question.
“Though Tamil Nadu is the birthplace of social justice, we are able to provide only 69 per cent reservation for the BCs, while neighbouring Karnataka is implementing 73 per cent. But, the fact remains that population of the BCs is higher in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Though the Supreme Court had given a year to complete the task, it could be done in a month with the help of revenue officials in the State, Dr. Ramadoss said.
The direction of the court would have a nation-wide impact since the call for caste-wise census was already gaining momentum. “The Union government, which is not able to take a decision on caste-wise census, is now under compulsion to do it,” he said.
