Karnataka Government's Decision To Scrap Four Percent Muslim Quota Will Not Be Enforced Until May, Says Supreme Court

The apex court adjourned to May 9, the hearing in a petition challenging the Karnataka government’s decision.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the state government, urged the bench to put the matter for some other day.

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to keep its decision to scrap the 4 per cent Muslim quota in abeyance till May 9. The apex court adjourned to May 9, the hearing in a petition challenging the Karnataka government’s decision. This comes after the state sought time to file its reply on the matter. A bench of justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna said the matter will continue to be on hold until it is heard next. They said it will be done without any prejudice to the contentions to be raised by the state government.

Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the state government, said, "I will be filing it today but the problem is I am in personal difficulty as I am arguing before the constitution bench which is hearing pleas related to same-sex marriage,” as reported by PTI.

He urged the bench to put the matter for some other day.

On the other hand, Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, who was appearing for the petitioners, opposed the request for adjournment by Mehta. He said the hearing has already been deferred four times in the past.

Commenting further on the matter, Mehta said that the interim order passed earlier already favoured the petitioners.

Meanwhile, Dave requested the court to record Mehta’s submission that impugned orders which is about scrapping the quota for Muslims will not be implemented in the near future. He also said, that the earlier order of March 30, 2002, granting the quota should be kept on hold until the next date of hearing, reported PTI.

Interestingly, the bench agreed with Dave and recorded the submission. The court also deferred the matter for further hearing on May 9 this year. This comes after the top court had on April 18 deferred a batch of pleas challenging the scrapping of the four per cent Muslim quota till April 25.

The court has also recorded the assurance given by the state government on April 13 that no quota benefits in admission to educational institutions and appointment in government jobs will be given to Vokkaligas and Lingayats till the next date of hearing, as reported by PTI.

Earlier, on April 13, the Karnataka government decided to scrap the four per cent Muslim quota ahead of the assembly polls came under the scanner of the Supreme Court.  The court had also questioned the government order. It further said that prima facie it appeared to be on a "highly shaky ground" and "flawed", reported PTI.