Kozhikode (Kerala): Muslim organisations have been protesting against the Kerala High Court's Friday ruling wherein it quashed the scholarship scheme for minority students in its current form.
Between 2008 and 2015, the Kerala government had issued three orders. According to these, 80 percent of the minority scholarships are awarded to Muslim students and the remaining 20 percent to Christians. The high court on Friday said the 80:20 ratio cannot be justified in the present situation. The court directed that the Welfare Board’s order must be revised to benefit both the minority communities equitably. The ratio has to be revised based on the present population of the minorities in the state, it said.
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Opposing the high court's order, ET Mohammed Basheer, a leader of the Indian Union of Muslim League (IUML), said the 80:20 ratio in scholarships was fixed and implemented by the LDF government in 2011. Addressing reporters, he said, "The scheme which was meant for the economically backward communities was reallocated for the minority communities. The UDF government had only continued with the order made in this regard in 2011."
The Muslim League has already announced its decision to appeal against the high court order. The other Muslim groups, including the Kanthapuram and EK factions, are yet to announce their stand on the high court order.
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Former minister and CPI(M) senior leader Paloli Muhammadkutty said the UDF government had implemented the 80:20 scheme giving in to the pressure from its ally, the IUML. Since its implementation, the scheme created a divide between the minority communities. Churches and Christian organisations have been opposing this ratio since then, he said.
Kerala’s demography
At present, Kerala has an 18 percent Christian and 27 percent Muslim population. If the Directorate of Minority Welfare Board revises the ratio as per the high court ruling, the reservation for Muslims will be reduced to 60 percent. On the other hand, Christians will get a 40 percent reservation. However, only if the backward communities are considered, there will be no substantial change in the reservation compared to the existing 80:20 scheme.
Several leaders, however, said the welfare schemes were mainly intended for the upliftment of backward Muslims, especially in the field of education. They cited the recommendations of the Rajindar Sachar Committee.
