AP govt to appeal to constituional bench on Muslim reservation

Hyderabad, July 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minority welfare minister Md Fariduddin today said the state government would approach the Constitutional bench of Supreme Court to review its recent judgement on providing five percent reservation to the Muslims in educational institutions and employment.

The Supreme Court has rejected an application filed by the Andhra Pradesh government seeking directions to reserve five percent seats in educational institutions in the state for Muslims during the academic year 2006-07 on July 5.

A Division bench, comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker, observed that if the application was entertained, it would virtually amount to staying an Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement, quashing quotas for Muslims.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Fariduddin said the state government was consulting legal experts on the judgement and would move the constituional bench at the earliest.

The minister said the ruling Congress government in the state was committed to provide reservations to Muslims as the promised during the Assembly elections.

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