The DMK has moved the Madras High Court challenging the recent Constitutional amendment to grant 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections (EWS) of the society.
The manner in which the Constitution Amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament and passed, was manifestly arbitrary, said the petition filed by the party’s organising secretary RS Bharathi.
The intention of the impugned amendments to Articles 15 and 16 is to include EWS of citizens as one of the “classes”, in favour of whom reservations can be made in educational institutions and in matters of employment.
The power to amend the Constitution has been given to Parliament as part of a social contract by the people. Equally, it casts a solemn obligation on Parliament to engage in some meaningful deliberation before exercising this power. Merely because the power to amend the Constitution is available, it cannot be used without prudence, study, deliberation or discussion, the petition said.