SC refuses to refer pleas demanding quashing of Vanniyar quota to larger bench

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (February 15) refused to refer to a larger bench against the quashing of the 10.5 per cent reservation provided to Vanniyars has been refused

The Vanniyars are one of the Most Backward Community (MBC) in Tamil Nadu, in government jobs and admission to educational institutions and the bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai said it has perused the judgments submitted and was of the view that the issue does not need consideration by a larger bench.

‘We are not inclined to the argument of referring the matter to a larger bench, you can start your arguments,’ the bench said.

On Tuesday, the apex court had said that it will decide the issue of referring the matter to a larger bench first without going into the merits of the case.

The state of Tamil Nadu was represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who had submitted that the case involved constitutional issues and would require consideration by a larger bench.

On a separate note, the top court had already made it very clear that admissions or appointments already made under the said quota will not be disturbed and further directed that no fresh appointments to state government services or admissions to educational institutions should be made till February 15, the next date of hearing in the case.

The top court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by the state of Tamil Nadu, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), and others challenging the November 1, 2021 judgment of the high court quashing the reservation provided to Vanniyars, saying it was unconstitutional.

The Madras High Court had said, ‘Is the state government empowered to do internal reservation. The Constitution has given enough explanation. The legislation providing for internal reservation is cancelled,’ and the state government cannot come out with such legislation as explained in the Constitution.

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