New Delhi: The Supreme Court raised objections on Tuesday regarding a statement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah concerning the politicization of the issue of a 4% quota for Muslims in jobs and education in Karnataka, while the matter was still under consideration by the Court.

A bench comprising Justices K M Joseph, B V Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah expressed concern over the issue. "We cannot allow politicization like this when we are ready to hear the matter," the bench said.

During the proceedings, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners, drew attention to the statement made by Union Home Minister Shah, who is said to have called the Muslim reservation unconstitutional.

The bench firmly reiterated that such statements should not be made while the matter is sub judice before the court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Karnataka government, asserted that any religion-based reservation is unconstitutional. While he denied having knowledge of the statement, he emphasized that it would be included in the manifesto.

The bench emphasized that public statements on this issue should not be made and should not be connected to politics.

Dave confirmed that he could present the statement of the minister before the court.

The hearing in the matter was adjourned until July. The petitions were filed by L Ghulam Rasool and others.

The petitioners stated that the Supreme Court approved the identification of the Muslim community as a socially and educationally backward class in the Mandal case. They further argued that the inclusion of the Muslim community in the EWS list is unlawful.

The Court also took note of the Solicitor General's statement that the state government's decision to scrap the 4% reservation for Muslims would not be implemented.