Maha govt against issuing ordinance for Muslim quota in education

The Opposition leaders argued that they had given consent for 5 per cent reservation to Muslims in education during their regime. However, after the ordinance lapsed, the BJP-Shiv Sena government did not re-issue the ordinance.

Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said, “The government is not against reservation for Muslims. But it would consider the decision after seeing the court order.” A public interest litigation on the matter is pending in the Bombay High Court.

Earlier, the government argued that the court had while upholding reservation for Muslims in education struck down the same for jobs. Moreover, he said, there was no constitutional provision that allowed reservation based on religion.

Education Minister Vinod Tawde said, “Under Other Backward Caste, there is a large number of Muslims who already avail the quota.”