Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court will hear all petitions together over the state’s decision to grant 42% reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections. Chief Justice Aparsh Kumar Singh led the bench that issued the order after examining multiple connected cases.
Telangana BC reservations local body polls: All petitions to be heard together
The bench said that every petition—whether supporting or opposing the government’s move—would be heard jointly for clarity. These petitions challenge Government Order (GO) No. 9, which increased BC reservations in local bodies from 25% to 42%.
Petitioners B. Madhav Reddy, S. Ramesh, and others argued that the total quota now touches 67%. They noted that SCs have 15% and STs 10%, crossing the 50% limit fixed by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney judgment.
Government defends quota hike through legislative change
Arguing for the state, Congress MP and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi justified the move. Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy said the government amended Section 285-A of the Panchayati Raj Act to authorise the quota hike.
However, lawyers for the petitioners pointed out that the Governor had not approved the bills passed by the Assembly. Moreover, the bench reminded both sides that the Supreme Court earlier advised the Telangana High Court to decide the issue at the state level.
Political leaders back the state’s decision
Meanwhile, the issue drew strong political reactions. BJP MP R. Krishnayya, CPI MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, and Congress leaders V. Hanumantha Rao, Charan Kaushik, and Indira Shobhan filed petitions supporting the government.
As the local body elections are already set to begin in October and November, the High Court’s decision could significantly impact the poll schedule. Therefore, political observers expect the verdict to carry major legal and electoral weight.
