Andhra to move apex court in Muslim quota case

A day after Andhra Pradesh High Court quashed four percent reservations for Muslims, the state government Tuesday decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah told reporters after a high-level meeting Tuesday evening that the state would take the services of the attorney general and the solicitor general of India for fighting the case in the apex court.

Rosaiah asked the state advocate general to take all necessary steps immediately to file Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court.

While admitting that the high court verdict has disappointed the Muslim community, the chief minister said it was not proper for him to comment on the judgment. "The option for the next course of action is open and we will exercise this option," he said.

Claiming that the government was sincere in providing job reservation to Muslims, he directed the officials to ensure that the interests of students already enrolled in various professional courses under the quota were not affected.

A seven-member bench of the high court Monday quashed a state legislation, providing four percent reservation to backward classes among Muslims in education institutions and government jobs.

With the court striking down quota for the third time since 2004, the government has come under criticism from the Muslim community and the opposition that it failed to put up strong defence in the court.

Last updated on Feb 9^th, 2010 at 20:12 pm IST--IANS