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PMK to implead itself in case challenging reservations

Special Correspondent

SC should hear case which has been pending for 13 years

S. Ramadoss

VELLORE: The Pattali Makkal Katchi will implead itself as a party in the case filed by advocate K.M. Vijayan of `Voice' in 1993 challenging the constitutional validity of reservation legislation, including the Tamil Nadu Act providing for 69 per cent quota to Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in government jobs and educational institutions in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, according to the party founder S. Ramadoss.

Addressing newspersons here on Tuesday, he said while Mr. Vijayan had filed the case in the Supreme Court challenging the legislation as soon as it was introduced in 1993, there were reports recently that the case was to be heard shortly by a 9-member Bench headed by Justice Sabarwal, who will be retiring shortly.

The Supreme Court should hear the case, which has been pending for the last 13 years, after a new Judge was appointed in place of Justice Sabarwal, he said.

The PMK leader said the decision of the Union Government to include reservation in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution was based on a judgment by a 13-member Bench in the Kesavananda Bharati case.

This should be considered more valid than any judgment to be delivered by a 9-member Bench, he said. The Union Ministry of Law should clarify this point, he said.

SEZ issue

Dr. Ramadoss said the PMK would organise a seminar on the topic, `Special Economic Zones (SEZ) — Are they Really Necessary?' in Chennai shortly in order to generate a debate on the issue in the light of the acquisition of thousands of acres of agricultural land without any assurance on job opportunities for displaced farmers.

He said there was nation-wide opposition to the establishment of SEZs.

The PMK did not oppose the SEZ as such, but only its setting up through acquisition of farmlands. Permission should be given to SEZs only after obtaining an assurance of adequate employment to those displaced, he said.

This had been stressed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, while former Prime Minister V.P. Singh and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee were conducting agitations against SEZs in their States, he said.

Dr. Ramadoss suggested that the SEZs be set up on the State Industries Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) industrial estates in Tamil Nadu, where most of the units had become sick.

He said a major portion of the agricultural land in Tamil Nadu was being purchased by businessmen in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, North India, Malaysia and Singapore.

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