The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Andhra Pradesh High Court to dispose off by October 31 the writ petitions against the state government's decision to provide four per cent reservation to Muslims in professional and educational institutions.

A bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and R V Raveendran said that in case the petitions could not be disposed off by the said date, the high court can pass an interim order on the issue.

But until then, the apex court's September 28 order staying further admissions under the impugned law shall continue, the bench said. On September 28, the apex court while stopping any further admissions under the controversial law had sought response of the Andhra Pradesh government on the rationale adopted for sub-categorisation of SEBC Muslims for extending the benefit of reservation.

The petition filed by two persons T Murlidhar Rao and K Sriteja has contended that providing reservations exclusively to the Muslim community on religious lines was violative of Articles 15(1) and 16(2) of the Constitution.