DMK president M.K. Stalin on October 15, 2026, urged the Tamil Nadu government to file a Supreme Court appeal regarding reservation for Muslim converts. He said, "Social backwardness does not arise in a day or a generation." Stalin argued that denying these benefits goes against the core principles of social justice.
"Social backwardness does not arise in a day or a generation. It is the result of a social system built over thousands of years. Conversion to another religion does not erase it," he said in a statement
Stalin urges TVK government to file appeal in Supreme Court over BC reservation for Muslim converts left M.K. Stalin. File S. Siva Saravanan The Hindu https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/4ml286/article71587170.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2085_3_10_2026_12_16_1_4_DSC_3558.JPG SIVA SARAVANAN S Coimbatore Tamil Nadu 03/10/2026: DMK president M.K. Stalin, in Dharapuram on October 02, 2026. PHOTO: Siva Saravanan S / The Hindu.
"Social backwardness does not arise in a day or a generation. It is the result of a social system built over thousands of years. Conversion to another religion does not erase it," he said in a statement
CHENNAI
DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday (October 15, 2026) urged the Tamil Nadu government to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court to protect the reservation rights of members of Backward Classes (BC) who had converted to Islam.
"Social backwardness does not arise in a day or a generation. It is the result of a social system built over thousands of years. Conversion to another religion does not erase it," he said in a statement.
Supreme Court holds conversion does not automatically grant quota benefits Supreme Court holds conversion does not automatically grant quota benefits The court held that a Tamil Nadu government order doing the same creates an "artificial group" which would access benefits of reservation associated with backward communities Conversion does not automatically grant quota benefits: Supreme Court storyline 1
Mr. Stalin said the Supreme Court's order on Thursday upholding a Madras High Court verdict denying reservation to Hindu BC members who had converted to Islam was contrary to the principle of social justice.
He said the DMK government, under the 'Dravidian Model', had adopted a resolution seeking reservation for Adi Dravidars who converted to Christianity and called for an amendment to the Constitution. "The TVK government should carry forward these efforts," he said.
Denying Backward Classes benefits to converts to Islam is unconstitutional Denying Backward Classes benefits to converts to Islam is unconstitutional Madras High Court ruling denies Backward Class status to converts to Islam, raising constitutional concerns and legal inconsistencies Denying Backward Classes benefits to converts to Islam is unconstitutional storyline 1
Mr. Stalin said members of the BC, Most Backward Classes (MBC), and Scheduled Castes (SC) communities who had faced caste oppression should continue to receive reservation benefits.
"Only this will uphold social justice. Denying reservation on the grounds of religious conversion is against social justice," he said.