SC turns down AP plea on Muslim quota

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court turned down Andhra Pradesh Government’s plea to allow it to admit Muslim candidates in various educational institutions for the current academic session under the controversial law providing five per cent reservations for Muslims in the state.

A Bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker said allowing the plea would amount to staying the Andhra Pradesh High Court order which had declared the impugned law as unconstitutional.

The court had earlier refused to stay the High Court order striking down the Andhra Pradesh Reservation of Seats in the Educational Institutions and of Appointments/Posts in the Public Services under the State to Muslim Community Act, 2005.

The Act provided five per cent reservation for Muslims in educational institutions and government jobs in the state.

The Bench reiterated its January four order in which it had said “we are not inclined to stay the operation of the impugned judgment and make operational a law which has been invalidated by the High Court, as an interim measure.” The Bench had, however, clarified that those already admitted in educational institutions or employed with public offices under the impugned law would not be disturbed and status quo would continue to this extent.