Hyderabad: In a move that can be seen as opposing a court decision, the West Bengal government on Friday announced 10
per cent job reservation for Muslims even as a Constitution bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down a similar law in the state.
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.
Soon after the court's order, Chief Minister K Rosaiah
directed the state advocate general D S R Murthy to file a
special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the
verdict.
"The state government is committed to providing 4 per
cent reservation to backward class Muslims in the state," he
said in a statement.
The court, in its order, set aside the state act and a
subsequent 2007 government order allocating 4 per cent
reservation to the Muslim groups in educational institutions
and jobs.
Earlier, the state 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 government order (GO) was issued on July 7, 2007
providing for the quota to the Muslim groups.
Andhra Pradesh School Education Minister D Manikya Vara
Prasad, who impleaded himself as a respondent in the matter,
said he would appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court.
Talking to reporters in Guntur, the Minister, who
personally argued the case and filed written arguments before
the High Court, expressed dissatisfation over the judgement.
Meanwhile, opposition parties termed the verdict as "unfortunate" and urged the government to take steps to protect the reservations.
Bengal announces reservation for Muslims in jobs
Meanwhile, apparently with an eye on elections
in the state, the West Bengal government went ahead and announced 10
per cent job reservation for Muslims under the OBC category.
The government declared the quota for the Muslims who
were educationally, socially and economically backward in the
state.
"Muslims form 25 per cent of the state's population and
we have for long been thinking of doing something for them. We
have decided to accept the recommendations of the Ranganath
Mishra Commission and will take steps to implement it," Chief
Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told newsmen here.
Asserting that reservation would not be given on the
basis of religion, he said the government had begun the
process of identifying Muslims who were educationally,
socially and economically backward.
"After identification we will provide reservation to them
under the OBC category," the CM said.
Asked whether the move was taken in view of the municipal
and civic polls, Bhattacharjee replied, "I will not answer
whether it is for votes. Incidentally the Rangnath Mishra
Commission's report was placed some time ago. That is why we
have to take this decision now."
Bhattacharjee said that the creamy layer among Muslims
having an annual income of Rs 4.5 lakh would not be considered
for reservation.
On February one, the ruling Left Front had endorsed
the Ranganath Mishra panel recommendations for job reservation
for minorities. The issue again came up at a Front meeting
during the day.
Elections to 82 municipalities across the state and
the Kolkata Municipal Corporation are slated for May-June
while assembly polls are due next year.
-PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 09, 2010, 00:26