HYDERABAD: The State government, on Tuesday, extended the reservation facility in recruitment and employment to its listed 140 Backward Castes by a further period of 10 years with effect from May 31, 2011.
This decision was taken by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy after several reviews a few days ago. However, it was not announced as the model code was in force till May 17 in connection with the by-elections in Kadapa district.
At the same time, the government announced extension of all the concessions offered to the listed Backward Castes, including a 5-year age concession in respect of recruitment tests, by ten years.
It will also be applicable to Muslims who were listed as a backward community and provided four per cent reservation, subject to the outcome of a civil appeal pending in courts, an order issued by Hiralal Samaria, principal secretary, Backward Classes Welfare, said.
The order said that the extension of the reservation facility and other concessions allowed to the Backward Castes other than Muslims and figuring in the State list, would be subject to periodic reviews of socio-economic and educational conditions by the Andhra Pradesh Commission for Backward Classes paving way for inclusion/deletion of a caste from the list.
According to V. Krishnamohan, former member, AP Commission for Backward Classes, the State list contains 125 Backward Castes now.
They have been classified into A, B, C, and D groups and are provided 25 per cent reservation. Besides, 15 sub-castes of Muslims have been categorised into Group E and extended four per cent reservation.