"Reservation has brought a revolutionary change in the socio-economic situation of the backward class. Now they have to wake up from the slumber of satiated insouciance," said a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court comprising Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath and Justice A.K. Basheer, on Wednesday upholding the order of the State Government providing reservation for financially backward students of forward communities.

The September 2008 order of the State Government reserved 10 percent of the seats in government-run colleges and 7.5 percent seats in universities to poor students from forward class families living below the poverty line.

The Kerala Muslim Jama-Ath Council challenged the order stating that it would adversely affect the rights of the backward classes. Dismissing the arguments of the organization that the Muslim community was not given due importance in educational matters, the court noted that the overall situation of the Muslims had undergone tremendous change in the last few years. "It is time the community leaders thought of shedding their 'backward' tag and prepared to compete with others for a slot in the general merit category," said the Court, observing that excellence in educational and professional fields could be achieved only if there was an element of competitiveness.

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