Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy?s controversial move to enact legislation providing 4% reservation to Muslims in the state was halted by the Supreme Court on Friday. The apex court has asked the state government to stop admissions in professional and educational institutions under the new law.
?There will be no further admission,? a bench headed by chief justice KG Balakrishnan said directing the state government to maintain status quo on the issue. However, it said the admissions made until now will be protected and posted the matter for hearing on October 5.
The court was hearing a petition challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court order declining to stay the ordinance on July 6 which allows 4% reservation for several sub-sects within the Muslim community by treating them as backward classes. The ordinance has since become an Act.
The identification of backward classes among the Muslim community by the state government came under the scanner of the apex court bench, which questioned the method adopted for the exercise.
The bench was critical of the list which showed the sub-sects among the Muslims included and excluded from the benefit of reservation.
