Cong to ensure reservation case disposal before new academic yr

Hyderabad, Mar 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Ali Shabeer today said the Congress Government would make efforts to ensure disposal of the Muslims reservation case before a seven-judge Constitutional Bench of the High court before the start of the new academic year.

Replying to a debate on demand for grants for Minorities Welfare, the Minister informed the Assembly that five per cent reservation was ensured in 2005 and the same was reduced to four per cent to overcome legal hurdles.

Mr Shabeer said 95 per cent of the seats reserved for the Backward Class(BC) within the community had been filled.

The Government had constituted a high-level committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary for implementation of the Prime Minister's 15-point programme and the Sachar Committee report for improving the plight of the Muslims and the Committee had so far held two meetings to review the implementation of the same.

Asserting that the State Government had not sold any Wakf land except the Manikonda lands through open auction, he assured agitated members that the Government would take all steps to liberate wakf lands involved in court cases. The Minister, however, rejected the opposition demand for constitution of a House Committee to protect the wakf lands.

Referring to the objection raised by All India Majilis-E-Itihadul Muslimeen Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi over the alleged irregularities in selection of Haj pilgrims last year, he said the Government would ensure transparency in selection of the Haj pilgrims.

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