TN Govt to Conduct Social Justice Survey After Caste Census, Minister Tells Assembly

The Tamil Nadu government will conduct a social justice survey after the Union government carries out a caste census alongside the general census, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V Sampath Kumar announced in the assembly in Chennai on Friday.

The minister's announcement came during a session marked by ongoing debates regarding the 10.5% reservation for the Vanniyar community. Sampath Kumar stated that the state administration has formally urged the Union government to include a caste census with the national census, and confirmed that Tamil Nadu will undertake its own social justice survey following that process.

The discussion triggered a sharp exchange between members of the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK on the floor of the House. AIADMK leader C Ve Shanmugam claimed that a relative of a DMK leader had moved the court against the 10.5% reservation that had been introduced by the previous AIADMK government in 2021.

Ministers E V Velu and M R K Panneerselvam strongly challenged the claim. Panneerselvam stated that Shanmugam had provided incorrect information to the House during the proceedings.

While Shanmugam initially defended his remarks, he subsequently conceded that the statement was inaccurate. Acknowledging the error, Shanmugam formally withdrew his statement before the assembly.