CPI (M) advocates quota for kids born out of inter-caste marriage

A solution to end casteism and honour killings, says Ramakrishnan

The State unit of the CPI (M) has made a strong case for a separate reservation for children of inter-caste marriage couples in education and employment opportunities, arguing that such an arrangement alone could prevent casteism from taking a deep root in society and honour killing of inter-caste marriage couples.

CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan said the government should come forward to implement the recommendations of Justice S. Mohan Commission that “the government may consider the children born out of inter-caste marriage as a special category under priority in the matters of admission to educational institutions and government services provided they possess the prescribed qualification.

“In the past, the family of the girl or the boy indulged in honour killings. Now the situation has come to such a pass that the community of the boy or the girl involves itself directly against inter-caste marriages. The murder of Gokulraj explains the trend,” said Mr Ramakrishnan, while explaining the resolution adopted in the secretariat meeting of the party held on July 14 and 15.

He said separate reservation alone would get social acceptance for inter-caste marriages and would gradually prepare the society to accept such couples. “The government should also enact a law to prevent honour killing,” he said.

In Tamil Nadu, children born out of inter-caste marriage can opt for either of caste of their parents. “Children normally chose the community that is eligible for reservation. There is no problem in opting for the father's community and sometimes a dispute arises while getting certificate of the mother’s community,” said advocate Sudha Ramalingam.

The Supreme Court in 2012 declared that in a marriage between a tribal woman and a forward caste man, the offspring would get tribal status if the child was brought up in the mother's environment and would be entitled to reservation.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Desai said that holding that the offspring of such a marriage would in all cases get his/her caste from the father would bound to give rise to serious problems.

“Government should come forward to implement the recommendations of Justice S. Mohan Commission”