July 24: Andhra Pradesh government provided four percent reservation to socially and educationally backward Muslims in jobs and educational institutions by replacing the ordinance providing the same with AP Reservation (in favour of socially and educationally-backward Muslims) bill 2007 on Monday.
Though only 15 classes (include 80-85 % of Muslim population) have been included to take the benefit of the reservation quota as was identified by the AP backward classes commission. Act does not include the upper-caste Muslims like Bohras, Khojas, Mughals, Pathans and Syyeds.
Even in the backward classes list the creamy layer norm of center would be applied except in the case of annual income limit which has been fixed at Rs. 4 lacs.
Approval to BC commission report indicated the quota to be fixed to 4% so that total reservation may not exceed the limit of 50%. Earlier the quota limit was 5%.
Reddy government made it an issue in election campaigning and accordingly promulgated ordinance in July 2004 giving reservations to Muslims.
BJP members made a walk out of the assembly over the issue saying it unconstitutional. Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen opposed it for the reduction of the quota as MIM demanded the reservation for the whole community.
Akbaruddin Owaisi MIM leader objected the division of Muslim community into caste-system as it was unislamic. A fatwa was issued by six seminaries in Hyderabad saying that it is against Islam to divide Muslims on the basis of caste and only piety can divide them.
Despite the opposition by the MIM and other seminaries, Muslims have welcomed the reservation act citing it as helpful for the economic as well as educational development.
Earlier too government provided reservation to Muslims but the move was frustrated by the Supreme Court saying reservation on the basis of religion is a violation of constitution.
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