Advertisement

SC refers Muslim quota to 3-member bench

Updated at:
SC refers Muslim quota to 3-member bench
SC refers Muslim quota to 3-member bench

The Supreme Court on Monday referred the Andhra Pradesh Government’s decision to provide four percent reservation to Muslims in education and employment sectors to a three-member bench.

Hearing the state government plea against the High Court striking down a state law providing four per cent reservation to the Muslims, the apex court issued notices to all the respondents.

Advertisement

The Court stated that the issue has been referred to a three-member bench to decide the provision of quota to Muslims as it is a Constitutional issue.The court adjourned the case for further hearing on March 24.

Earlier, a seven-judge Constitution bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court held that the law providing 4 per cent reservation to economically backward Muslims in the state was ‘unsustainable’ and violative of Article 14, 15(1) and 16 (2) of the Constitution.

Attorney General G E Vahanvati argued on behalf of state government before the Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.

However, senior advocate and BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad opposed the state government’s decision and said "religion-based reservation has no place in the Constitution".

The Assembly passed the bill on the basis of a report submitted to it by Andhra Pradesh Commission for Backward Classes. 

The report had recommended that socially and educationally backward classes be adequately represented in the employment and educational sector in the state. The government order was issued on July 7, 2007 providing for quota to the Muslims.