2010-03-29 14:03:56

Church happy as India’s Supreme Court upholds Muslim quota


(March 29, 2010) Catholic Church officials have welcomed India’s Supreme Court upholding the decision of southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state to set job quotas for Muslims. India’s apex court on Thursday lifted a lower court stay on the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to reserve 4 percent of jobs and education places for economically backward Muslims. Father Anthoniraj Thumma, secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches, said the court ruling would pave the way for granting quotas for Christians of low-caste origin, a demand the Church has been making for more than five decades. The Indian Constitution allows such quotas for low-caste Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. Christians and Muslims are excluded under the pretext that their religions do not recognize the caste system. Father Thumma says the Supreme Court has agreed that the Andhra reservation was not based on religion but on backwardness. Father Cosmon Arokiaraj, secretary of the Indian bishops’ commission that looks after the affairs of low-caste and tribal groups, also welcomed the ruling, hoping it will be precedent for the rights of low-caste Christians too. He said the Church has been fighting for equal rights for low-caste Christians and Muslims without considering their religion.







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