SC allows 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in AP institutes

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court today cleared the decks for admission to educational institutions in Andhra Pradesh on the basis of four per cent reservation for Muslims, subject to a rider.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices P Sadhasivam and J M Panchal, however, directed that the admissions would be subject to the outcome of writ petitions pending in the state High Court.

In May this year, the Supreme Court had permitted the State Government to go ahead with the counselling, but had restrained it from making admissions on the basis of religion-based reservation.

The petitioner had contended that such reservation was not permitted under the Constitution and therefore, the order of the State Government providing reservation to Muslims was liable to be struck down as unconstitutional and illegal.

Counsel for the State Government, however, contended that there was nothing illegal in the Government's order and entire admission process in the state would be disrrupted if admissions were not allowed as the counselling was already over.

After hearing both the parties, the apex court granted conditional permission for the admissions and directed that the admissions would be subject to the outcome of writ petitions being heard by a seven-judge bench of the High Court.

UNI SC GL NS1448