(1.) I have the privilege of going through the elaborate opinions framed by my brother Judges Mr. Justice Goda Raghuram and Mr. Justice V.V.S. Rao. By and large, I am in agreement with them, but there are some areas, where I could not pursue myself to go along with the opinion of my brothers, though the fate of the cases would be the same and the writ petitions would have to be allowed. Facts have been mentioned in detail by my learned brothers in their judgments, but in order to frame my opinion, certain facts would have to be repeated.
(2.) Andhra Pradesh Reservation of seats in the Educational Institutions and of appointments/posts in the Public Services under the State to Muslim Community Ordinance, 2005 (Ordinance No.13 of 2005, dated 20.6.2005), is under challenge in these writ petitions. A battery of lawyers assisted us in these writ petitions. There are writ petitioners, respondents and the interveners. Mainly, there were following questions, which fell for our consideration;
(3.) My reservations are with regard to 1st question itself, as to whether Muslims, as a community, could be declared socially and educationally backward. The facts which are relevant for the purpose of this question are: