HYDERABAD, India, 10 July 2007 — The Andhra Pradesh government has issued an ordinance providing four percent reservations to 15 socially and educationally backward groups among Muslims in professional educational institutions and public employment.
According to the ordinance issued by Gov. Rameshwar Thakur, the Muslim backward groups are included in a specially created Backward Classes group “E”. Currently there are four groups — A, B, C, and D — entitled to reservation.
The ordinance also introduced the “creamy layer” concept for exclusion of “socially advanced persons/sections” but did not specify the upper income limit that will make a person ineligible for benefits under the scheme.
Apart from providing reservations for admission into professional educational institutions under Articles 15 (4) and 16 (4) of the constitution of India, the ordinance extended reservation for 15 Muslim groups in appointment to posts in the government service by invoking the Public Services Act, 1994.
The specific groups of Muslims identified for four percent reservation include Achchukattalavandlu, Attar Saibulu, Dhobi, Fakir, Garadi, Gosangi, Guddi Eluguvallu, Hajjam, Labbi, Pakeerla Borewale, Qureshi, Shaik, Siddi, Chakke Takera and other Muslim groups excluding Syed, Mushaik, Mughal, Pathan, Irani, Arab, Bohra, Shia Imami Ismaili Khoja, Cutchi-Memon, Jamayat and Navayat and all the synonyms and sub-groups of the excluded groups.
Muslims constitute about 9.2 percent (seven million) of the state’s total population of 76 million, according to a 2001 census. Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the four percent quota for 15 identified groups of Muslims would, in effect, cover 85 percent of the Muslim population in the state “except Syeds, Mughals, Pathans and other sections which are equivalent to upper castes among the Hindus (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Reddis, Kammas etc).” The state government has directed the higher education, technical education and medical education departments to take necessary steps for provision of reservation for 15 groups of Muslims in professional courses such as BE, MBA, MCA, MBBS, BDS etc.
It is the third time that the state government has provided reservation for Muslims. The government had earlier provided five percent reservation to the entire Muslim community (excluding creamy layer) in 2004 and 2005 but on both occasions the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down the quota. The state government’s special leave petition against the high court’s judgment is pending in the Supreme Court.
