Andhra Pradesh High Court strikes down law on quota for Muslims

A Constitution bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court today struck down a state law providing 4 per cent reservation in educational institutions and jobs to 15 groups belonging to the Muslim community.

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.