NEW DELHI: In a major blow to the central government, The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay the Andhra Pradesh High Court order quashing 4.5 percent sub-quota for minorities in central educational institutions.





The court questioned the grant of 4.5 percent reservation to minorities on religious grounds.





The Apex Court issued notices and sought response from the petitioners and to the Andhra Pradesh government who had challenged the 4.5 percent sub-quota.





The court has however accepted the Special Leave Petition filed by the government challenging the judgement of the Andhra Pradesh HC which had ruled against the move to carve out a separate 4.5 percent minority quota from the OBC reservation.



The SC will now hear the case further after the vacations. This effectively means that IIT admissions this year would have no minority sub-quota, reports said.









