Hyderabad: The Muslim Reservation Bill which was pending since the long period is going to be introduced in the Telangana State Legislature in the coming Budget session next month. The Bill aims to increase the reservation for the community in education and employment to 12 percent.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had promised during the elections that Muslims will be provided 12 per cent reservation in proportion to their population.
Muslims in Telangana currently enjoy four per cent reservation in education and employment under a separate category of backward classes. He also promised to clear hurdles in a new scheme and announced to send students from minorities abroad for higher education.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao clarified on Wednesday in the Legislative Assembly that this quota was not being given on religious grounds but on the basis of socio-economic and educational backwardness of Muslims, who comprise nearly 15 percent of the population in Telangana.
He also said that the Telangana government would move the Supreme Court against the Central government if the Muslim quota Bill is rejected which is passed by Telangana Legislature for its inclusion in the IX Schedule of the Constitution to provide the legal protection to the Muslim quota.
Mr. Rao said.“We will tell the Supreme Court that the Centre had allowed the Tamil Nadu government to implement reservation over and above 50 per cent quota limit prescribed by SC since 1991 by incorporating the state reservations in the IX Schedule of the Constitution. We will inform the Supreme Court that people in TS are also demanding similar exemption. Since TS is also a state in India like TN, I am 100 per cent confident that the hike in the Muslim quota will overcome all constitutional and legal issues as there cannot be different rules for different states. If we succeed, we will get quotas like TN. Otherwise, both the states will lose.”
He added.“The AG advised that it would be better if BC Commission tours districts to conduct hearings on the Muslim quota and submit a report to the government. Otherwise, it would be viewed as if the panel had drafted the report sitting in Hyderabad, which may face legal issues later. Since Budget session is just a month away, he suggested that it would be better to wait till then and draft the Bill.”
Muslims constitute 12.68 percent of Telangana’s population. This Commission will ensure that all communities in the state have equal opportunities in all fields, both in the private and the public sector.