The Supreme Court turned down the Andhra Pradesh government’s plea to admit Muslim candidates in educational institutions for the current academic session under an act that provides five percent reservations for Muslims in the state, The Hindu reported.
The Andhra Pradesh government this year reserved 5 percent of education places and governmental jobs for Muslims, becoming the first Indian state to reserve jobs for the Muslim minority.
But the state’s High Court ruled in November that the act was void, saying that it violates the constitution which doesn’t allow reservations according to religion.
In January, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
It reiterated its ruling on Thursday, saying that it is 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."
However, the court said that those already admitted in educational institutions or employed with public offices under the law would not be disturbed and status quo would continue to this extent.
Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy criticized the High Court’s decision that the reservations act was unconstitutional, saying that the government wasn’t offering reservations to Muslims on the basis of religion.
He argued that not all Muslims were given the benefit but only those who are considered disadvantaged.
Muslims make up about 10% of the 78m population in Andhra Pradesh.
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