Justice M.S. Janarthanam: Champion of Tamil Nadu’s 69% Reservation Policy Passed Away

Tamil Nadu, six June 2025 Talk about Justice M.S. Janarthanam, who has recently passed away. The respected lawyer and legal thinker was 89. His most notable contribution involves the state being at the forefront of upholding the peculiar reservation policy of 69 percent that grants marginal classes special rights in terms of education and employment to indicate socially and educationally backward groups. His legal pursuits assisted in the shielding of these policies, even in occasions when they are opposed in the courts.

Another promising shot is a Legal Voice on Social Justice.

Justice Janarthanam was a retired Madras High Court judge and was later a Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Commission Chairperson. He never believed in anything but equality, fairness, and social justice in his legal pursuits. He was of the opinion that the law should not only be just on paper but it should also assist in eliminating harsh unfairness in the life of reality.

What is the 69 percent Reservation Policy?

The majority of Indian states have retained the Indra Sawhney case (1992) direction of the Supreme Court that it should not get more than 50 percent. This is as to between merit and social justice.

The Tamil Nadu however has a special law whereby 69 per cent is being reserved. This includes:

Backward classes (BC)- 30%

20 percent of Most Backward Classes (MBC)

18 per cent of the Scheduled Castes (SC)

Scheduled Tribes (ST) 1 per cent

The 76 th Amendment to the Indian Constitution inserted the law in the Ninth Schedule and this has made it difficult to challenge it in the courts in 1994. Justice Janarthanam was very crucial in providing legal backup and social statistics to support this law.

His contribution to Reservation and Law Reforms

Justice Janarthanam was the Chairperson of Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Commission (2006 to 2015) and in this capacity, he made numerous historical changes in the legal scenario. His wise advice was to put sub- quotas within groups that were reserved and mostly those which were the most deprived.

Arunthathiyar Internal Reservation

He did observation study on the Scheduled Castes group and discovered that the Sub-group called Arunthathiyars were more backward among other groups. His proposal of 3 % internal quota was enacted into law in the form of Tamil Nadu Arunthathiyars (Special Reservation) Act, 2009. His legal reasoning was very strong as this law was soon made official by the Supreme Court in 2024.

Targeting of Backward Muslims and christians

It was also recommended by Justice Janarthanam that there is just reservation to Muslims and even Christians belonging to the backward castes. His reports presented evidence about the social and educational situation of these ill.

The advocates of the 69 Policy

In the year 2010, when the case of reservation ceiling was discussed in the parliament he had provided arguments in favor of protecting 69 percent quota in Tamil Nadu through detailed reports. He presented the arguments on foundation of facts, surveys and Constitutional principles.

Laws On Which His Work is Based

The work of justice Janarthanam was filled with good legal ideologies:

a. Section 15 (4) and 16 (4) of the Constitution

Such articles permit the state to form special laws that are to be used in lifting out Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

b. Article 46

This Directive Principle requests the State to safeguard school-going and economic interests of the weaker groups, particularly SCs and STs.

c. Indra Sawhney Case (1992)

Although this case established a 50 percent ceiling on reservation, it also an exceptional case of an extraordinary situation. Justice Janarthanam contended that the case of Tamil Nadu was such special case.

d. 76 th Constitutional Amendment (1994)

This Amendment put the 69% quota act by Tamil Nadu in the Ninth Schedule where it could not be questioned in the courts. The reports by Janarthanam backed the resolve by the state and assisted in the justification of the amendment.

Judiciary and Government respect

Justice Janarthanam was looked up by the political parties. When he was first appointed is under DMK government and later on under AIADMK, and this proves that both parties had confidence in his fairness.

He had a simple way of living and was well educated with regard to law as well as he was also a man of justice. He was a firm though fair judge in court. In the real world he strived to make the law work in favor of the poor and voiceless.

His Indian Law Legacy

Justice Janarthanam demonstrated that good law had to be driven by the reality and not by the theory. His effort contributed to Tamil Nadu:

Secure its special reservation system

Make sub-group bookings in order to access those who need most

Legally defend the decision in Supreme Court and High court

Even during his retirement, he did not retire work on justice as he wrote legal reports and advised governments.overnments.

The demise of Justice M.S. Janarthanam is a big blow to the legal fraternity and equality believers. Through his work millions got an opportunity to get educated and to have jobs. He was a profound thinker on law and a sense of justice.

He demonstrated how the law can serve as a means of restituting centuries of wrongs and his example is a bright guideline to judges, lawyers as well as policymakers in the entirety of India.