Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Scientific methodology needed’

Hyderabad: When more than 100 applications from various castes seeking inclusion into the list of Backwards Class category were pending, the government and the A.P. Commission for Backwards Classes could not have picked up some selected Muslim castes based upon religion and given them preference. This was the main theme of attack on the reservations for some castes of Muslims, during the arguments in the High Court on Wednesday.

Senior counsel K. Ramakrishna Reddy, who was appearing for some of the petitioners in a batch of writ petitions, was addressing the bench of seven judges for the seventh day. The bench was hearing the arguments in the batch of writ petitions filed challenging the constitutional validity of the action of the state government in providing reservations in fields of public employment and education for certain sections of Muslims.

Justice Ramakrishna Reddy questioned the wisdom of the authorities in picking up Muslim castes for preferential treatment. He said that when meritorious students are denied seats in professional courses and denied jobs in the name of newly carved out reservation for the Muslim groups, the government and the Commission should have taken up more scientific more transparent methodology before giving such reservations.

He charged the commission and the government with relying upon irrelevant data. The arguments will continue on Thursday.

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