The Central government will through a Special Leave Petition approach the Supreme court on the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s rejection of its proposal to create a 4.5 per cent sub-quota to minorities within OBCs in central educational institutions and jobs.

Talking to the media in New Delhi today, the Minority Affairs and Law & Justice Minister Salman Khurshid said, the matter will be taken up by the Attorney General with immediacy. Mr. Khurshid said, the 4.5 per cent quota is proportional to their population and also based on the Mandal Commission report.

Stating , the minorities are both religious and linguistic, the minister said matter deserves to be looked into by a constitutional bench. Mr. Khurshid said, the Andhra Pradesh High court had in earlier three instances turned the proposals of the State government. Rejecting that, the order on minority sub quota is a setback, he said, the governments affirmative action for the most backwards among other backward castes will continue.

Mr Khurshid said, the achievements of the Ministry of Minority Affairs during the 11th five year Plan, include 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities in Government Jobs and admissions, scholarships to 1.42 crore students and the increase in percentage of recruitment of minorities from 6.93 per cent to 11.99 percent.