Andhra HC strikes down minorities sub-quota

Hyderabad: A Division Bench of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on Monday struck down the office memorandum issued by the Central government creating a sub-quota for religious minorities out of the existing 27 per cent reservation for the other backward classes (OBCs).

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, declared that this action of the Central government was based upon religious lines and not on any other intelligible consideration.

"There is no rationale or empirical data to justify such an action," the Bench opined.

The Congress, however, chose to react cautiously on the issue. Party spokesperson Manish Tiwari said, "The court order has to be read and understood and we will react if necessary."