MADURAI
A public interest litigation petition was filed at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday against the move to include Vathiriyan community as a sub-sect of Devendrakula Vellalar community.
A division bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and R. Hemalatha directed notice to the Secretary, Department of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, National Commission for Schedule Castes and Directorate of Adi Dravidar Welfare. The case has been posted for further hearing to April 10.
The petitioner, M. Barnabas, said Vathiriyan community was a minority community classified as a Scheduled Caste. The community people were living largely in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari and Ramanathapuram districts. They worshipped Lord Perumal and had their own unique tradition and culture, different from those of other communities.
Demands were now made to include the community as a sub-sect of Devendrakula Vellalar. Following objections raised from some quarters, a commission under retired High Court Judge M.S. Janarthanan was constituted to look into the issue. The commission’s proceedings were, however, abandoned, the petitioner said.
The petitioner also claimed that while answering a question raised by K. Krishnasamy of Puthiya Tamilagam in the Assembly in 2014, former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said Vathiriyans were against their inclusion in Devendrakula Vellalar community.
The petitioner said Vathiriyans wanted to continue as a separate community under the Scheduled Castes and sought to restrain the community’s inclusion in Devendrakula Vellalar community.
