The Hindu : Front Page : Court order on status of Muslims in U.P. stayed

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Saturday, Apr 07, 2007
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Court order on status of Muslims in U.P. stayed

Allahabad: A Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday stayed a single judge's judgment denying minority status to Muslims in Uttar Pradesh.

Justice S.R. Alam and Justice Krishna Murari gave the stay order after a preliminary hearing of the review petition filed by the State Government challenging the verdict given by Justice S.N. Srivastava.

The Government argued that it was not necessary for the single judge to adjudicate on the minority status of Muslims since this matter was neither before him, nor was any relief sought.

The stay came on the eve of the first phase of the crucial elections to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly after Thursday's order triggered an outcry among all political parties, excluding the Bharatiya Janata Party, and several Muslim organisations.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Advocate-General S.M.A. Kazmi submitted that ``hundreds of welfare schemes run by the Government would be affected by the judgment and all the benefits accruing to the Muslims under those schemes will come to an end.''

Mr. Kazmi said, ``the order was passed without reason. Besides, the question of minority status for the Muslims was neither before the single judge nor was any relief sought on the basis. It was, therefore, not necessary to adjudicate on this issue.'' — PTI

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