“Muslims form 25 per cent of the state population and we have for long been thinking of doing something for them. We have decided to accept the recommendations of the Ranganath Misra Commission and will take steps to implement it,” Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters.

He said the creamy layer among Muslims with an annual income of Rs 4.5 lakh would not be considered for reservation.

Maintaining that reservation would not be given on the basis of religion, he said the government had begun theprocess of identifying Muslims who were educationally, socially and economically backward. “After identification we will provide reservation to them under the OBC category,” he said.

Asked whether the move was taken in view of the municipal and civic polls, Bhattacharjee said: “I will not answerwhether it is for votes. Incidentally, the Ranganath Misra Commission report was placed some time ago. That is why we have to take this decision now.”

He said that as per the Supreme Court ruling, reservation could go up to 49 per cent. Currently, there was 22 per cent reservation for SC and another 6 per cent for the ST. With the fresh 10 per cent, the total reservation under the OBC category would go up to 17 per cent, he said.

HC quashes Andhra law for minority quota
Stating that religion cannot be the basis for quota, the Andhra Pradesh High Court today quashed a state law providing four per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to 15 socially and educationally backward classes among Muslims.

A seven-member constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice A R Dave, said the law on quota for minorities was “unsustainable” and “could not be implemented”.

This is the third time since 2004 that the High Court has quashed a quota for Muslims.

The order is a major set back for the Congress government which had provided reservation to certain backward groups among Muslims.