Chennai, Tamil Nadu – In a significant development for Muslim community rights in South India, the Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to challenge the recent Supreme Court judgment that cancelled reservation benefits for people who converted to Islam.
Addressing a press conference at the Namakkal Kavignar Maligai Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai on October 29, 2026, Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar said the state Cabinet has cleared eight industrial proposals and also approved the filing of a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict.
Background of the Case:
On October 15, 2026, the Supreme Court of India upheld a ruling that said converting from Hinduism to Islam or Christianity does not automatically entitle a person to Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation. It quashed a 2024 Government Order (GO) issued by the previous DMK government that had granted reservation to converted Muslims under the Most Backward Classes (MBC) category.
The court observed that the state had not provided adequate empirical data on the social backwardness of converted Muslims.
Tamil Nadu's Stand:
Minister Nirmal Kumar said, "Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in social justice. Our Dravidian model is based on Equality, Justice, Secularism. We will not let the rights of Muslim converts be affected."
Key decisions taken in the Cabinet Meeting on 29 Oct 2026:
1. Review Petition: Government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging the quashing of the 2024 GO on Muslim converts reservation. 2. Social Justice Survey Commission: A new commission headed by a retired High Court Judge will conduct a comprehensive caste-wise and religion-wise social status survey in early 2027 to collect fresh empirical data. 3. Legal Protection: The government will ensure that existing beneficiaries are not affected till the review is decided.
The Minister clarified that cases against former DMK Ministers are based on complaints and evidence, not political vendetta, and the government is committed to upholding Article 15 and 16 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality and reservation.
Reaction from Muslim Organizations:
Muslim organizations in Tamil Nadu, including the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), have welcomed the state government's decision. They said that many Dalit Muslims continue to face social discrimination even after conversion to Islam and deserve affirmative action.
Tamil Nadu has about 4.5 million Muslims, constituting about 5.86% of the state's population, with a significant number being converts from SC communities in Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, and Coimbatore districts.
Political Context:
This move is seen as crucial ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and the proposed nationwide Caste Census. The current government, led by Chief Minister Vijay, has been focusing on social justice as a core policy.
This exclusive development on Muslim reservation rights in Tamil Nadu was first monitored and exclusively reported by Islam Global News – Your voice for Truth, Justice, A Better Tomorrow.
Published by Islam Global News
Date: 30 October 2026 | Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Category: Indian Muslim News
