Hyderabad, (IANS): A special session of Telangana Assembly will be held on April 16 to pass a legislation to increase quota for Muslims and tribals, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced on Wednesday.
He said the percentage of enhanced quota will be decided by the state cabinet at a meeting on April 15.
After passing the bill, which will take the overall reservation quota in the state beyond the prescribed limit of 50 percent, it will be sent to the Union government for President’s assent.
He said if the central government refused to include the legislation in Constitution’s 9th Schedule as was done in the case of Tamil Nadu, Telangana would approach the Supreme Court.
Rao was addressing a news conference after the meeting of state cabinet, which accepted report of State Backward Classes Commission on the socio-economic conditions of Muslims and report of another panel to increase quota for tribals.
He said that his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was taking the step to implement its poll promise to increase quota for Muslims and Scheduled Tribes to 12 percent each.
He pointed out that the socially and economically backward sections among Muslims are already enjoying 5 percent reservation in jobs and education.
The Chief Minister said Telangana’s legislation would be on the lines of the law passed by Tamil Nadu and included in 9th Schedule.
He contended that with 90 percent of the newly created Telangana state’s population constituting backward classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities, 50 percent ceiling on reservation will not work for the state.
Citing the examples of states implementing more than 50 percent reservation, he remarked that law has to be equal for all states.
The TRS chief demanded that the Centre transfer the subject of reservation to states as the states will have better understanding of their social composition and will be able to take necessary steps to ensure social justice.