Parliament Passes Bill To Classify 7 Scheduled Caste Groups Of Tamil Nadu As 'Devendrakula Velalars'

It seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 and group seven Scheduled Caste communities in certain districts of Tamil Nadu under 'Devendrakula Velalars'.

The move comes ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled on April 6, 2021.

As per the Statement of Objects annexed to the Bill, the Government of Tamil Nadu has proposed certain modifications in the list of Scheduled Castes, by way of grouping of seven castes, which presently exist therein as separate castes.

After the Registrar General of India conveyed concurrence to the proposed modifications, the Bill was introduced to:

Replace the entry for the Devendrakulathan community with Devendrakula Velalar, which includes the communities that are currently listed separately within the Act. These are:

• Devendrakulathan
• Kalladi
• Kudumban
• Pallan
• Pannadi
• Vathiriyan
• Kadaiyan (in the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam)

The separate entries of these castes in the 1950 Order have been omitted.

It may be noted that Article 341 of the Constitution empowers the President to specify the list of Scheduled Castes in various States and Union Territories. Further, it permits Parliament to modify this list.

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