Court strikes down reservation for Muslims in Govt jobs

Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday struck down as unconstitutional, a State Government's order providing four per cent reservation for Muslim community in Government jobs and educational institutions.

This is for the second time that the Government has faced embarrassment as its two earlier attempts too met the same fate.

The Congress Government first tried to implement its election promise made in 2004 by granting five percent reservation but it was dismissed by the Court saying it exceeded the 50 per cent limit set by Supreme Court for reservations.

After much debate and study by State BC Commission, the quota was reduced to four per cent but this too has been rejected by the Court.

PTI adds:

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.