Andhra HC rejects 4% quotas for Muslims

A Constitution Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court today set aside an act legislated by the state Assembly and a subsequent 2007 government order providing 4 per cent reservation to 15 groups belonging to the Muslim community.

The order was passed by the seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Anil Ramesh Dave on a petition filed by an advocate K Kondala Rao.

The state government had moved a bill in the Assembly on the basis of a report submitted to it by the Andhra Pradesh Commission for Backward Classes. The bill was later passed by the Assembly.

The report had recommended that the socially and educationally backward should be adequately represented in the state.

The government order (GO) was issued on July 7, 2007 providing the 4 per cent reservation to the 15 groups.

Soon after the High Court order, Chief Minister K Rosaiah directed the state advocate general D S R Murthy to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the verdict striking down the government order on the reservation to Muslims in educational institutions and jobs.  

"The state government is committed to providing 4 per cent reservation to backward class Muslims in the state," he said in a statement.