Who brought 69% reservations in Tamil Nadu?

The 69% reservation system in Tamil Nadu was implemented during the DMK government led by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 1994. This was enacted through the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in Educational Institutions and of appointments or posts in the Services under the State) Act, 1994. The legislation placed the reservation in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to protect it from judicial review. The breakdown includes 30% for backward classes, 20% for Most Backward Classes (MBC), 18% for Scheduled Castes, and 1% for Scheduled Tribes, totaling 69% reserved seats. This exceeds the Supreme Court's 50% ceiling established in the Indira Sawhney case, but Tamil Nadu maintains this through constitutional protection. The policy reflects the state's long history of social justice movements advocating for proportional representation and opportunities for historically marginalized communities.