The Tamil Nadu government has directed all educational institutions (government-run, State-aided, and private) to certain instructions regarding the implementation of preferential reservation for Arunthathiyars under the Tamil Nadu Arunthathiyars (Special Reservation) Act, 2009.
The instructions, issued in the light of a Madras High Court judgment, directed all educational institutions to fill up open/general/unreserved seats first purely on merit. “Arunthathiyar candidates are fully eligible to compete in this category,” a communication from the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department said.
While filling the 18% Scheduled Caste quota, the rotation prescribed in April 2009 (through G.O. No. 50) was to be strictly followed. “The preferential SC(A) seats (rotation points 2, 32, and 66) shall be offered to Arunthathiyar candidates in the first instance,” the communication dated May 8 this year said.
In the remaining SC general seats, all Scheduled Caste candidates, including Arunthathiyars, shall compete on inter-se merit, it said. Selection or admission of meritorious Arunthathiyar candidates in SC General seats shall not, under any circumstances, reduce or affect the 16% preferential SC(A) sub-quota.
