BC leaders slam Telangana HC stay on OBC quota, warn of agitation
Hyderabad: In a dramatic escalation of the legal battle over OBC reservation, leaders from 14 Backward Class (BC) associations staged a protest at the Telangana High Court on Thrusday, condemning the interim stay on the 42% quota in local body elections as a ‘grab from BCs' mouths’ and an ‘insult’ to the community.
The protest was led by prominent BC leader R. Krishnaiah, who addressed reporters shortly after the court's decision to stay the implementation of the quota and postpone elections for four weeks. Indeed, they compared the court's stay order to taking away food from the BC community, arguing that it removes a constitutional right to political representation at a significant time.
Meanwhile R Krishnaiah questioned the timing of the decision, noting that the election notification had already been issued and many candidates had filed nominations, which he said created significant confusion.
Allegations of Unfair Procedure
The BC leaders noted procedural concerns, mentioning that the case had been ongoing for four days. “If a stay had to be granted, it could have been considered on the first day. The court had previously declined to grant a stay twice. It is difficult to accept such a stay after extended arguments,” Krishnaiah stated.
They also alleged that their perspectives were not considered, noting that 30 BC associations had filed implead petitions, but the stay was granted without hearing their arguments.
Political Call and Demand for Judicial Reservations
It is pertinent to note that the Telangana High Court has issued an interim order halting the state government's implementation of a 42% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local body elections. The court granted temporary relief to the petitioners by ordering an immediate stay on the 42% OBC quota. The State Government has four weeks to submit a detailed counter-affidavit, after which the petitioners have two weeks to file their rejoinder. The court approved all the implead applications.
In the wake of the court's order, BC leaders rallied for political action, urging all political parties to stand in solidarity with the community. They warned that those behind the decision would face political repercussions.
Further, the protest also evolved into a broader constitutional debate, with leaders attributing the judgment to a perceived lack of diversity in the judiciary. “The main reason for this is the lack of BC, SC, and ST judges in the High Court and the Supreme Court,” Krishnaiah claimed, demanding reservations for these communities in the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.
The protest drew a broad coalition of BC association leaders, such as Gujja Krishna, Gujja Satyam, Neela Venkatesh, and Allampalli Ramakoti, underscoring a united front from the community in the face of this legal blow.
