Inform us of stand on plea to revise reservation list of BCs: HC to Ker govt

The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the government to inform it of its stand on a plea seeking to revise the list of reservation of Backward Classes as per a state Act, to end the "sorry state of affairs" of Muslims in the state.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar gave the direction while considering the plea by the National Minority Charitable Trust.

The matter has been posted for July 26.

The Trust submitted that as per the direction of Supreme Court, the Kerala State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 was enacted and thereafter, the Kerala State Commission for Backward Classes was constituted.

Though Section 11 of the Act mandates periodic revision of reservation lists to exclude classes who have ceased to be Backward Classes (BCs) or for including new BCs. Even after 61 years of statutory reservation, no such revision has been conducted and the rotation chart has never been changed, it said.

Due to this non-revision, the Muslim community, SC/ST and 70 other backward classes have been "grossly