Supreme Court okays four percent quota for Muslims in Andhra - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Supreme Court on Thursday gave its nod to the four percent quota for Muslims in jobs and educational institutions in Andhra Pradesh. The apex court maintained that quota would be given to only 14 percent categories figuring in the 2007 Andhra Pradesh Reservation Act. This is an interim order. The whole issue of the validity of the Act has been referred to a five-judge Constitution Bench, which will be taken up in August. A seven-judge bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier in February opposed the law terming it as illegal and unconstitutional. Andhra Pradesh had in July 6, 2007 promulgated the ordinance for four percent reservation in the state's professional colleges to several sub sects within the Muslim community, treating them as backward classes.