Case against use of term ‘Devendrakula Velalar’

HC seeks response of Centre, State explaining their stand

The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre and the State government to explain the rationale behind a decision taken recently to use the common nomenclature Devendrakula Velalar to refer to seven different Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu, despite objections raised by people belonging to the Vellalar community, comprising Mudaliars, Gounders, Pillaimars and Saiva Chettiyars. Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy ordered that both the Union and the State governments should file their counter affidavits, indicating their stand, in three weeks. The order was passed on a writ petition filed by the World Vellalar Association, challenging a government order issued on June 1, instructing Collectors in the State to use the new nomenclature in official records. In an affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, association president W.B. Palani said about 2.7 crore people in the State belonged to the Vellalar community, and they did not like the name being used by any other community. However, in March 2019, the State government constituted a committee to group Kudumban, Pallan, Devendrakulathan, Kadaiyan, Pannadi and Kalladi under a common nomenclature.