Setback to CM Revanth Reddy, SC dismisses Telangana govt’s petition on 42 pc BC reservation

In a major setback to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, the Supreme Court rejected the state government plea on the issue of implementation of BC reservations in local body elections. The Apex Court rejected the special leave petition filed by the state government. It made it clear that it cannot be accepted for hearing as it is pending in the High Court.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed the High Court to conduct further hearing irrespective of the Supreme Court’s orders. The Supreme Court directed the High Court to continue the hearing on the merits. It said that if desired, the State government can go to the elections with the old reservations.

It dismissed the SLP filed by the Congress government, ordering them to go to the local elections with 50 percent reservations. Meanwhile, since there was no positive decision in the Supreme Court as well, it is learnt that CM Revanth Reddy intends to go to the local body elections by implementing 42 percent BC reservations from the party’s perspective.

There is a possibility of discussing this with his fellow ministers and taking a final decision on the local elections. The Congress government has issued GO No. 9, increasing the reservation to 42 percent in local body elections based on population. 

However, some people approached the High Court against this GO, but the High Court stayed it on the grounds that the reservation exceeded the 50 percent limit and did not comply with the ‘triple test’ (backwardness, population details, 50 percent limit) criteria set by the Supreme Court.

The local body election process in the state has been stalled due to the High Court stay. Challenging the High Court’s decision, the Telangana government has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, seeking permission to hold local elections based on GO No. 9.

However, the Supreme Court, reiterating the Supreme Court’s guidelines on reservations, has clarified to the Telangana government that it should go for elections only within the 50 percent reservation limit. The Supreme Court has made it clear that it cannot interfere in the current situation.

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