By IANS
Chennai : The Madras High Court Thursday refused to stay a Tamil Nadu government ordinance that gave 3.5 percent reservation to the backward classes among the Christians and Muslims in the state.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani issued notices to the government returnable in four weeks while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Coimbatore-based lawyer M. Loganathan.
Loganathan has contended that the step was ultra vires of the constitution and aimed at buttressing the ruling DMK’s vote bank.
The advocate claimed the measure diminished the quota of the other communities listed under the backward classes in the state.
The state government announced the measure on Sep 13. It was implemented with effect from Sep 15.