12% Muslim quota likely in Telangana

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, January 19

The Telangana government would introduce a bill in the coming budget session of the Assembly to provide 12 per cent quota for Muslims, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said.

At present, there is 4 per cent quota for Muslims, who constitute 12.4 per cent of the state’s 3.52 crore population, in government jobs and educational institutions. As of now, the total quota in the state has been capped at 50 per cent in tune with the Supreme Court guidelines.

The OBCs are entitled to 25 per cent reservation, the SCs and STs put together have 21 per cent while Muslims have 4 per cent. The hike in quota for Muslims was one of the key poll promises of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

However, the quota enhancement beyond the 50 per cent cap fixed by the apex court requires the Union Government’s approval and a constitutional amendment.

“We will follow the Tamil Nadu model and will have reservations beyond 50 per cent ceiling,” the Chief Minister said while replying to a debate on the welfare of minorities in the Assembly.

The BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy opposed reservations on the basis of religion and pointed out that the matter was sub-judice, pending final adjudication by the Supreme Court. The CM, however, clarified the proposed quota was not on the basis of religion but on the basis of social backwardness.