India, April 3 -- The Bombay High Court on Thursday sought a response from the Maharashtra government on a petition challenging a Government Resolution (GR) dated February 17, which cancelled a 5% reservation in education for around 50 backward Muslim communities classified under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category.

A division bench of justices R I Chagla and Advait Sethna directed the state authorities, including the Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance, to file their replies within three weeks. The court posted the matter for hearing on May 4.

The petition, filed by advocate Syed Ejaz Abbas Naqvi along with a social worker, termed the GR "violative of the Constitution". It argued that the dec...