Andhra Muslim quota hearing on March 22

The Supreme Court will hear on March 22 whether religion-based reservation has a place in the Constitution.

The court will hear an appeal from the Andhra Pradesh government to scrap a judgment by the high court striking down a new law providing 4% quota for Muslims in educational institutions and jobs.

Attorney general Goolam E Vahanvati, who moved the appeal for the state, sought an urgent hearing as the matter is of vital importance. However, lawyer and BJP parliamentarian Ravi Shankar Prasad, who appeared for the anti-quota petitioners, said there is no urgency in adjudicating on the issue. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, KG Balakrishnan, will begin hearings on March 22.

The Andhra high court, in a majority judgment of 5:2, said the law providing 4% reservation to backward class Muslims was “unsustainable” and violative of Articles 14, 15(1) and 16(2) of the Constitution. While Article 14 talks about right to equality, Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion and caste and Article 16 is about equality of opportunity in matters of employment.