New Delhi: Minority Affairs Minister
Salman Khurshid on Monday found similarity between the Kerala High
Court`s order supporting reservation for the poor among
forward castes and the Supreme Court`s past observation for
excluding creamy layer from quota benefits for backward
castes.
"I think creamy layer was the beginning of the same
thought process, which the Kerala High Court is talking of,"
Khurshid said while replying to a query in the Editors`
Conference on Social Sector Issues here.
Kochi Division of the Kerala High Court had a few days
back dismissed a petition filed by the Kerala Muslim Jamaath
Council, which challenged the state government order for
reservation for financially weak people from forward castes in
government educational institutions.
Upholding the government order, the court said
students of backward communities should secure admission at
higher and post graduate level by competing with meritorious
students. It also said the overall situation of Muslims in the
state had undergone tremendous change and it’s high time the
community leaders thought of shedding their "backward" tag and
prepared to compete with others.
Khurshid said, "What the Kerala High Court has said, had
also been said in the past when the creamy layer issue was
decided by the Supreme Court, which sought removal of this
segment from reservation list and nobody can disagree with
that. Now if there is a judgement that also indicates that a
certain factor should be examined, the appropriate ministry
would look at it in due course."
PTI
