The Tamil Nadu governor on Thursday issued an ordinance, providing for a sub-quota of 3.5 per cent each for Muslims and Christians, who come under the backward class category, for admissions to educational institutions and government jobs.

 The ordinance followed the announcement by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that the new scheme would be brought into force from September 15, the 99th birth anniversary of DMK’s  founder C N Annadurai.

 At present, Tamil Nadu has 69 per cent reservation, the highest in the country. Under this, the 19 per cent quota for scheduled castes and tribes is protected by the Constitution.

The remaining 50 per cent is split into two categories, with the most backward getting 20 per cent and other backwards enjoying 30 per cent.

 Some sects of Muslims and Christians and backward and most backward Hindu communities figure in the second list. 

The 69 per cent quota is under challenge before the Supreme Court as violative of its judgement in the Mandal case, that fixed an overall ceiling of 50 per cent.

The  Andhra Pradesh High Court had recently ruled against the  state government’s ordinance on a separate five per cent quota for Muslims on the ground that there could not be reservation on the basis of religion.

Thereby, the state government has decided to carve out a separate quota for backward class Muslims and Christians from the existing BC quota. 

Mr Karunanidhi in a press release said that on the basis of the Second Backward Classes Commission’s findings on the population of backward class Hindus, Muslims and Christians, 3.5 per cent each could be set apart from the BC quota for socially and educationally backward Muslims and Christians.

  Though Karunanidhi said the government had abided by the party’s poll promises made in the 2006 Assembly elections, the announcement has come on the eve of BJP senior leader L K Advani’s luncheon meeting with AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalitha here.