TN Christians get back backward class reservation

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu (TN) government withdrew on Monday the 3.5% special reservation for Christians in educational institutions and re-included them in the backward castes (BC) category.

Chief minister M Karunanidhi conceded the request of a team of Christian leaders led by Chennai archbishop AM Chinnappa after it explained to him how the special quota deprived Christians of seats under the backward castes category, a government press release said.

Christian leaders had taken a decision on this a few days ago after a symposium in Kanyakumari district that found that the old system was more beneficial.

“The chief minister understood the problem and agreed to restore the earlier system that benefited Christians. The exclusive reservation of 3.5% for Muslims, however, remains,” the communiqué added.

Tamil Nadu provides the highest, 69%, quota in the country, 30, 20, 18 and 1 per cent for backward castes, most backward castes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, respectively.