As the debate over caste census continues, Chief Minister M K Stalin has reiterated the union government’s commitment to this agenda while celebrating a significant milestone: the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in medical seats surrendered by states for the All India Quota (AIQ).

With a heart “brimming with pride,” Stalin highlighted the tangible impact of this legal victory on his social media platform, ‘X’. Over the past three academic years, a substantial 15,066 Medical and Dental seats have been secured for OBC students, a result of what he describes as the “uncompromising legal fight” led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Stalin’s celebratory message came in response to a post by DMK MP P Wilson. Wilson detailed the continuous legal battles waged by the DMK, under Stalin’s leadership, through various courts. He emphasized the pivotal moment on July 19, 2021, when the Madras High Court issued an order staying the NEET exams. This action led the Union Government, under the pressure of contempt proceedings, to reluctantly accept the 27% OBC reservation in the AIQ on July 29, 2021.

The reservation policy for the AIQ in medical admissions has a complex history. The AIQ was introduced in 1986 without any specific reservations for OBCs. It was only in 2008-09 that the then UPA government allowed OBC reservations in Central educational institutions but notably excluded the AIQ in medical admissions. At that time, the DMK was in alliance with Congress and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was subsequently introduced.

Amidst this backdrop, BJP state president K Annamalai has presented a counter-narrative. He claims that the DMK strategically filed a writ in the Madras High Court in 2020 despite being aware of a related pending case in the Supreme Court. Annamalai also reminded the public that the AIQ’s inception dates back to 1986 and was