Khurshid finds similarity in HC order, SC view on creamy layer

Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday found similarity between Kerala High Court's order supporting reservation for the poor among forward castes and the Supreme Court's past observation for excluding creamy layer from quota benefits for backward castes.

Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday found similarity between Kerala High Court's order supporting reservation for the poor among forward castes and the Supreme Court's past observation for excluding creamy layer from quota benefits for backward castes.

"I think Creamy Layer was the beginning of the same thought process, which the Kerala High Court is talking of," Khurshid said while replying to a query in the Editors' Conference on Social Sector Issues in New Delhi.

Kochi Division of the Kerala High Court had a few days back dismissed a petition filed by the Kerala Muslim Jamaath Council, which challenged the state government order for reservation for financially weak people from forward castes in government educational institutions.

Upholding the government order, the court said students of backward communities should secure admission at higher and post-graduate level by competing with meritorious students. It also said the overall situation of Muslims in the state had undergone tremendous change and its high time the community leaders thought of shedding their "backward" tag and prepared to compete with others.

Khurshid said, "What Kerala High Court has said, had also been said in the past when the creamy layer issue was decided by the Supreme Court, which sought removal of this segment from reservation list and nobody can disagree with that. Now If there is a judgement that also indicates that a certain factor should be examined, the appropriate ministry would look at it in due course."

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