Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Against Reservation Benefits for Converted Muslims in Tamil Nadu
The Supreme Court has upheld the Madras High Courts decision to cancel reservation benefits for converted Muslims in Tamil Nadu, sparking political debate.
New Delhi, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : The Supreme Court has confirmed the Madras High Court‘s ruling that annulled reservation benefits for converted Muslims in Tamil Nadu. On Thursday, the Court dismissed a plea from the Tamil Nadu government, thus endorsing the High Court’s earlier decision. This ruling has intensified political discussions across the country.
Ajay Alok, a national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), praised the Supreme Court and the High Court for their clear stance on the matter. He emphasized that the implementation of reservation should be consistent across all branches of government—executive, judiciary, and legislature—regardless of whether it pertains to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or Other Backward Classes. “This clarity is crucial for the nation,” he stated.
Another BJP spokesperson, Rakesh Tripathi, remarked that those advocating for reservation should review the debates from the Constituent Assembly that led to the inclusion of reservation provisions in the Indian Constitution. He noted that these provisions were originally based on the need to combat discrimination. “When individuals convert to another religion, the issues of discrimination should cease to exist. However, some continue to support reservation for converted individuals, driven by vote-bank politics,” he argued.
In contrast, Danish Ansari, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, called for unity and trust among citizens, stating, “Our aim should be to advance the country together. The Supreme Court’s decision is universally accepted.”
The bench, comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and V. Chandrasekhar, rejected the Tamil Nadu government’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the High Court’s ruling. The High Court had previously annulled a government order from March 9, 2024, which allowed individuals from backward classes, especially those converting to Islam, to avail reservation benefits.
The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision based on constitutional principles, stating that individuals from backward classes or Scheduled Castes cannot automatically carry over reservation benefits upon converting to another religion.
