Report on job reservation for SC/BC soon

CHENNAI, FEB 18: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced that the Tamil Nadu Government has appointed a committee of some Cabinet mi...

CHENNAI, FEB 18: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced that the Tamil Nadu Government has appointed a committee of some Cabinet ministers and senior Government officials to study and suggest measures to implement the recommendations made by two committees, on reservation of jobs for SCs and BCs in various Government departments. The committee8217;s report would be tabled in the House, most probably in this session.

Intervening in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for her address to the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that both the committees headed by the respective ministers gave their reports to the Government. The reports were placed before the Cabinet and later it was decided to appoint another committee to suggest measures for implementing the recommendations, he said.

The Government had earlier appointed two committees 8212; one headed by Adi Dravidar Minister Samayanallur S Selvarasu and another headed by Backward Classes Minister M R K Panneerselvam. Among other things, the committees examined whether the posts in various Government departments were filled up by following the reservation procedure; whether reservation was followed in promotions; and number of vacancies that existed for SCs/STs/BCs/MBCs and Denotified communities in various departments. Each committee was represented by MLAs belonging to different political parties and some officials.

Contrary to expectations, the TMC, the main Opposition party in the House, kept a low profile and there was not much heat when its MLA S Alagiri spoke. Compared to his earlier speeches in the House, this time he took a soft stand and there was no criticism or strong words about the performance of the DMK Government.

Criticising the Centre for hiking the prices of urea and PDS rice and wheat, he urged the State Government to move a resolution like the one passed in the Kerala Assembly, to condemn the Centre for the hike. Without naming any party, he said some MPs from Tamil Nadu who were in the Central Cabinet had been adopting double standards on the price rise issue. According to him, though they were party to the Central Cabinet8217;s decision to increase the prices of essential commodities, they make a hue and cry when they come here. 8220;They should be exposed,8221; Alagiri said.

Among other things, the TMC member urged the State Government not to pass on the financial burden caused by the increase in the prices of PDS rice on poor people; to ensure proper distribution of new PDS cards and take stringent action against elements indulging in illicit arrack business.

Regarding the recent Central Government notification transferring corruption cases against former chief minister J Jayalalitha and some of her erstwhile Cabinet colleagues from the Special Courts to the regular Sessions Courts, he pointed out that it would take at least three years for the cases to come up for trial. If this was the situation, when would the cases be over and the guilty get punished, he asked. 8220;I am afraid that the God of Justice will commit suicide after seeing the happenings,8221; he said.

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Earlier, intervening in the debate, PWD Minister Durai Murgan said the decision to shift the local courts from Ooty town to Kakkathoppu outskirts was taken by the Madras High Court and the State Government had no role to play. Moreover, the new premises had an area of over 11,000 sq mt, whereas the existing one covered an area of only 1,043 sq mt. The new court building would be a double-storeyed one with wide parking area, he said.

G Palanisamy CPI wanted the Government to appoint a high-level committee to go into the problems faced by the farmers. S S Mohammed Ismail INL sought 10 per cent reservation for Muslims in State Government jobs.

Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan and Kuzhandai Tamizharasan both DMK welcomed the various announcements made in the Governor8217;s address.