HYDERABAD, 16 June 2005 — Muslims in Andhra Pradesh may enjoy five percent reservations in education and jobs from this year as the Backward Classes Commission has supported such a move in its report.

The report has cleared any legal and technical hitches in the implementation of one of the major electoral promises of the ruling Congress party. This has also brought an end to nearly a yearlong controversy over the issue.

The commission headed by Justice D. Subrahmaniam submitted the report to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Though the commission refused to divulge the contents of the report, it is understood that it recommended reservations for Muslims. The report will have to be approved by the state Cabinet to pave the way for its implementation.

The government had in July last year issued an order declaring Muslims a backward community and providing five percent reservations to them in education and jobs.

This sparked off a controversy with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu right-wing groups challenging the move in the high court.

On Sept. 21, a five-judge bench of the high court quashed the order on the ground that the state government did not consult the Backward Classes Commission before taking the decision.

The high court directed the state government to reconstitute the commission in three months and seek the body’s opinion for the inclusion of the Muslim community into the list of backward classes. The four-member commission, set up in November, studied the socio-economic and educational status of Muslims, met people from all walks of life and visited several places in the state.

Reddy had been saying that the government would implement five percent reservations for Muslims from this academic year. This move is expected to benefit about 15,000 Muslim students.

According to the 1991 census, the population of minorities in Andhra Pradesh is 11 percent of the state’s population (76 million), of which Muslims make up 8.5 percent.

Madrassas to Introduce NCC

Meanwhile, students of madrassas in Bihar will soon be able to join activities under the National Cadet Corps. (NCC) and Scouts and Guides.

The Bihar State Madrassa Education Board has received a clearance from the state administration for the purpose.

“We have decided to introduce NCC and the Scouts and Guides in over 500 madrassas this year,” board President Abdul Wahid Ansari said. — Additional input from IANS.