Telangana high court questions 42% BC quota order

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Saturday said the state government must proceed on the issue of Backward Classes (BC) reservations strictly in accordance with law.

A division bench of Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice Vijaysen Reddy was hearing a petition filed by Buttenagari Madhava Reddy of Keshavapur village in Medchal Malkajgiri district. He sought quashing of a government order (GO) increasing BC reservations to 42%.

Bench questions Telangana govt on 42% quota GO

The petitioner argued that raising BC quota from 27% to 42% had pushed total reservations beyond the constitutional limit of 50%, reaching 67% under the new GO. He said the Panchayati Raj Act provides for a 50% ceiling. He reminded the court that a division bench of the High Court earlier struck down a similar GO issued in 2018 that raised the BC quota to 35%.

Petition challenges hike beyond 50% reservation cap

During the hearing, the bench asked, “In Tamil Nadu, reservations were raised to 69%. Why cannot Telangana follow that?” The petitioner’s counsel replied that Tamil Nadu had placed its law under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution and the matter is pending before the Supreme Court.

The bench also noted that the Telangana Assembly had passed a resolution amending Section 285A of the Panchayati Raj Act, which is now pending with the Governor. It questioned the Advocate General on how the government could issue a fresh GO while the amendment was still awaiting assent.

When the Advocate General sought two days to obtain instructions, the bench allowed it. The Election Commission’s counsel replied to the court that even if the poll notification was issued, the commission would consider it on merit.

The bench adjourned the matter to October 8.