Reservations for Muslims in govt jobs subject to SC verdict: AP

The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday announced that extension of reservations for Muslims in government jobs and education will depend on the outcome of a writ petition in the Supreme Court.

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government
on Tuesday announced that extension of reservations for Muslims in
government jobs and education will depend on the outcome of a
writ petition in the Supreme Court even as it extended
reservations for various backward classes for a further period
of ten years.
"Extension of reservations for Muslims under Group-E of
the quota system will be subject to the outcome of the writ
petition pending before the Supreme Court," State Information
and Public Relations Minister D K Aruna said.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the state Cabinet
meeting, chaired by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy here
today, Aruna said the Council of Ministers decided to extend
reservations in jobs and education to backward classes by a
further period of 10 years. The existing quota system would
come to an end this month.

The upper age limit in respect of BC candidates has also
been enhanced by five years, she added.

"The extension of reservations will be applicable to
Groups A, B, C and D. In respect of Group E (Muslims), the
government will act as per the orders of the Supreme Court,"
the Information Minister said.

Asked if the reservations for Muslims were being kept
"on hold" pending disposal of the case in Supreme Court, Aruna
initially replied in the affirmative. But, later upon
prompting by officials, she said, "We will implement
reservations for Muslims but depending on the Supreme Court
verdict."
The Congress government had in 2006 started implementing
five per cent reservation for Muslims in jobs and education
but after the Supreme Court struck the policy down, the
government reduced the quota to four per cent. Even this
provision has been challenged and a case in this regard is
still pending in the Supreme Court.

PTI

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