Thaindian News

Chennai, July 12 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government Tuesday said it will continue with its policy of 69 percent reservation for the backward classes, without excluding the creamy layer.

In a statement issued here, the government said the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Monday.

The cabinet discussed in detail the report submitted by the State Backward Classes Commission and issued a government order continuing with 69 percent reservation without excluding the creamy layer.

According to the order, 30 percent reservation in jobs and education will be reserved for backward classes (BC), 20 percent for most backward classes (MBC) and denotified communities, 18 percent for Adi Dravidas and one percent for scheduled tribes.

The State Backward Classes Commission, headed by M.S. Janarthanam, submitted its report to the government last week.

According to the Commission, the reservation was in line with the population of the said communities and there were no discrepancies.

In 1992, the Supreme Court had ordered that reservation should not exceed 50 percent.

In order to continue with the 69 percent reservation, the then government, headed by Jayalalithaa, passed a bill in 1993 to protect the existing reservation.

The act was included in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to put it beyond judicial scrutiny.

When the issue was challenged, the apex court last July said if a state desires to provide reservation of over 50 percent, then it should be on the basis of quantifiable data in respect of communities.

The apex court also said the state government should place before the Backward Classes Commission quantifiable data on backward communities for fresh determination of reservation.

The commission had to submit its report by July 2011.