The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Andhra Pradesh government not to make any further admissions in professional and educational institiutions under the controversial act providing four per cent resevrations to the Muslims.

However, the apex court said that the admissions made till date will be protected and posted the matter for further hearing on October 5.

The admission process was scheduled to be completed on September 30.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said that the status quo be maintained.

The court deferred the hearing after the Andhra Pradesh government sought some time to clarify the queries about the inclusion of 14 sub-castes of the Muslims in the list of socially and educationally backward class.

The petitioners, who have challenged the legislation, contended that the identification of backward classes on the basis of religion was against the mandate of the Constitution.

The petition filed by T Murlidhar Rao and K Sriteja had challenged the Andhra Pradesh high court order declining to stay the ordinance issued by the state government on July 6, 2007, under which it provided four per cent reservation to several sub-sects within the Muslim community by treating them as Backward Classes.

The ordinance has not become an act.