GR didn’t scrap Muslim quota, ordinance lapsed: Govt

Mumbai: A July 2014 ordinance granting 5% quota for Muslims in govt jobs and education lapsed in Dec that year and, hence, a govt resolution (GR) issued this Feb has not per se scrapped any quota for the community, the state govt has told Bombay high court.The state submitted its affidavit last week in response to a petition filed by advocate Syed Ejaz Naqvi, challenging the Feb 17 GR that allegedly cancelled quota. Naqvi had termed the state govt's decision as "racial discrimination", and claimed it was violative of the Constitution and against the interests of the Muslim community. The affidavit said neither was there any discrimination nor were any provisions of the Constitution or other laws violated "as no reservation can continue without statutory backing".HC is likely to take up the plea on May 4. PTI