Increased judicial activism harming legitimate demands: Akbar

All India Majilis-E-Itihadul Muslimeen Floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi on Monday expressed fears that increased judicial activism would lead to legitimate welfare schemes meant for Muslims would be struck down by courts.

The Majlis Member of Legislative Assembly was speaking at a debate on demands for grants for Minorities Welfare.

The MLA’s words prompted Deputy Speaker N Manohar to remind him to be careful while voicing his opinion on the functioning of the judiciary.

Brushing aside Mr Manohar’s words, Mr Owaisi said he was well within his rights to make observations on the functioning of the judiciary.

Mr Owaisi said that he feared that ''minorities will be rendered second grade citizens, going by the judicial pronouncements in the country.''

The MLA expressed his deep dissatisfaction over the quashing of the four per cent reservations in jobs and educational institutes for backward Muslims by the High Court. He cited reservations for Minorities in Karnataka and Kerala and questioned why the same was not extend for backward Muslims of Andhra Pradesh.

He also asked how four per cent reservation for backward among Muslims alone could lead to religious conversions when reservation for 46 per cent of people could continue.

The AIMim leader said, ''We are not bothered what steps the State Government will take. The Government, which is claiming itself to be the champion of Muslims, should ensure reservation for backward among Muslims at any cost.''