Kochi, July 24: A senior Judge of the Kerala High Court recently sparked a controversy after he urged Brahmins to agitate against caste-based reservation. According to a report by Bar and Bench, Justice V. Chitambaresh, while speaking at the Tamil Brahmin’s Global Meet held on Friday, described certain characteristics that apparently define a Brahmin and said they should be at the helm of affairs. His remarks were widely circulated on the internet. Kerala High Court Dismisses Plea to Allow Muslim Women in Mosques 'On Lines of Sabarimala Verdict'.

Chitambaresh said that the Brahmins must 'agitate' or voice their concerns about 'economic reservation alone, and not caste or communal reservation.' The Judge further went on to promote preservation of agraharams (temple land donated to Brahmins) and expressed an opposition to the constitutionally mandated system of reservation.

The Kerala High Court Judge claimed that he was not expressing any opinion because he is holding a constitutional post. According to a report by The Wire, he said it is time for you to deliberate as to whether reservation should be on the basis of community or caste alone. "Occupying a constitutional post, it may not be proper for me to express any opinion – I am not expressing my opinion at all. But I am only kindling your interest or reminding you that there is a platform for you to agitate or to voice your concern about economic reservation alone, and not caste or communal reservation,” he said.

According to a report by Bar & Bench, Justice Chitambaresh was sworn-in as an additional judge of the Kerala high court in November 2011 and in December 2012, he became a permanent judge.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2019 09:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).