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Quota for minorities

This is in response to the letter on the constitutional legality of the Tamil Nadu government’s move to extend reservation to the backward classes among the minorities (Oct. 24). The legislation does not cover the entire Christian or Muslim community but only those sections within the communities that have been classified as backward. Therefore, the argument that the law is unconstitutional seems highly unlikely to be valid. Nor is it necessary to fear that the law will encourage religious conversions. Conversions cannot change the status of the caste to which a person belongs.

Tom C. Jose,

If extending reservation on the basis of religion is against the secular spirit of the Constitution, is not denying the benefit to them on the very same basis against the secular spirit as well?

I.T. Manoharan,

The argument that there should be no reservation for the backward classes among the minorities is illogical given that the state provides reservation for the backward sections of the majority community. The minorities, particularly Muslims, are hardly represented in the government service. The law passed by the Tamil Nadu Government was long overdue. No reservation can be complete without reservation for the minorities.

N.G.R. Prasad,

While it is imperative for a government to explore ways to further the integration and representation of the minorities, the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to fall back on reservation seems populist.

Without a constitutional basis and sociological and demographic statistics, the DMK government has stirred up a hornet’s nest. The already subjugated minorities will now have to face the ire of the intelligentsia and the misguided Hindutva elements.

Rex S. Arul,

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