Tuesday saw the reinstatement of the 4% other backward classes (OBC) quota for Muslims in Karnataka after the state government admitted before the Supreme Court that it would not carry out the government order (GO) removal of reservation for the Muslim community and that the "earlier regime" would remain in place until the next hearing date of May 9.
The controversial GO allocating the 4% quota equally to two dominant communities, Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas, is also legally put on hold as a result of the commitment made by the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government before the top court. Muslims may now apply to state authorities for benefits under the quota.
After the law officer requested an adjournment of the petitions challenging the March 27 GO eliminating the 4% OBC quota for Muslims, solicitor general Tushar Mehta appeared before a bench headed by Justice KM Joseph and recorded his undertaking on behalf of the Karnataka government.
The S-G's appeal was accepted by the panel, which also included Justice BV Nagarathna, but only after he promised to give a statement on the revival of the rule that gave Muslims 4% of the OBC quota privileges.
“We record S-G’s statement (that) the impugned orders (GO) shall not be implemented till the next date of hearing. Earlier regime relating to reservation, namely the March 30, 2002 notification, will continue to hold the field till the next date of hearing,” recorded the court order.
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