Kolkata: Acting first on the Ranganath Mishra Panel recommendations, the West Bengal government today announced 10 per cent job reservation for Muslims under the OBC quota, excluding the creamy layer.

The decision, taken by the Left Front government even before the Centre worked on an action-taken report, was announced by the Chief Minister at the state Secretariat.

''We have decided to take initiative to implement the Ranganath Mishra Panel recommendation in the state. Those who are backward among the Muslims will have 10 per cent reservation in government jobs under the OBC quota,'' he told reporters.

The Chief Minister said the state has so far seven per cent reservation for OBC. Now with the provision of 10 per cent for the Muslims the OBC quota would shoot up to 17 per cent.