Congress alleges Muslim reservations in govt jobs down from 4 to 3 per cent in Telangana, threatens to go to court

HYDERABAD: Former minister and political affairs committee convener Mohammed Ali Shabbir of Congress on Friday expressed serious concerns over reports of the TRS government reducing the Muslim reservations in government jobs from the existing 4 per cent to 3 per cent.

The state government had recently released a government order prescribing the roster points for direct recruitment under Rules 22 and 22A of the Telangana State and Subordinate Service Rules 1969, while enhancing the reservations for the Schedule Tribes (STs) from 6 per cent to 10 per cent.

Referring to the roster points table, he said the Muslim quota in jobs had been reduced to 3 per cent instead of 4 per cent as per the roster.

“The Congress will go to court if chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao did not restore the 4 per cent Muslim quota. Stringent action should be taken against the officials if it is found that that human error crept in while preparing the roster,” he demanded.

Stating that he has shot off a letter to chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao seeking clarification on the new roster, Shabbir Ali said the 4 per cent quota for Muslim groups under BC-E category must be strictly implemented and any deviation would amount violation of the law and the contempt of Supreme Court where the 4 per cent quota case is pending.

“The new roster points issued by the Telangana government have reduced the Muslim quota to 3 per cent. As per the roster points for direct recruitment, roster numbers 19, 44 and 94 have been marked for candidates belonging to BC-E groups. Roster No 69, which should have been reserved for BC-E has been reserved for BC-B candidates. This means that the Muslim quota in government jobs has been reduced from 4 per cent to 3 per cent. This is illegal and unconstitutional,” Shabbir Ali said.

CM KCR should take immediate note of this error and take corrective action. “A fresh Roster must be issued by ensuring the 4 per cent quota for Muslims is restored. I also request CM KCR to take stern action against the officials responsible for this blunder,” he demanded while releasing copies of a letter he had written to the CM, at a media conference.

Shabbir Ali said the Telangana government is not empowered to reduce the Muslim quota by issuing a GO. The 4 per cent Muslim reservation was implemented after enacting a separate law in the then Andhra Pradesh Legislature which becomes applicable in Telangana State too since 2014. Further, the State Government has to maintain the status quo and continue the implementation of 4 per cent reservation as ordered by the Supreme Court in March 2010 until the matter is disposed of by the Constitutional Bench.

The former Leader of the Opposition in the Telangana Legislative Council said that TRS came to power in the 2014 elections on the promise of giving 12 per cent reservation in jobs and education to poor Muslims.

“KCR had promised to implement 12 per cent Muslim reservation within four months after coming to power. He did not honour the promise even after eight years.

Courtesy : TOI

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