Andhra HC quashes BC quota orders in local bodies; govt to move SC
Andhra Pradesh High Court strikes down orders granting 34 per cent BC reservation in local bodies, ordered polls within six weeks; govt to challenge order in SC
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has quashed two orders issued by the NDA government providing 34 per cent reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies.
Responding immediately to Thursday’s (October 1) verdict, the state government made it clear that it remains committed to providing 34 per cent reservations for BCs and declared that it would challenge the verdict in Supreme Court.
Two government orders struck down
After completing the hearing on various petitions filed on local body elections and reservations, the high court bench, which had earlier reserved its judgment, pronounced its final orders on Thursday.
Also read: SC questions reservation benefits for children of IAS officers and affluent families
The bench struck down G.O. Ms. No. 105 issued by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department, providing 34 per cent reservations for BCs in local body elections, and G.O. Rt. No. 1065 issued by the Municipal Administration Department, providing 33.33 per cent reservations for BCs in municipalities.
The court made it clear that, in accordance with the guidelines previously laid down by Supreme Court, the combined reservations for SCs, STs and BCs should not exceed 50 per cent under any circumstances.
Election process within six weeks
The high court directed the state government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to immediately focus on conducting local body elections and initiate the election process within six weeks.
Also read: Andhra local body polls in doubt after Backward Classes reservations row
The high court also dismissed a petition filed by the YSRCP seeking to conduct local body elections only after completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, along with petitions challenging the delimitation of wards.
Government to approach Supreme Court
Immediately after the verdict was pronounced, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting with senior officials and reiterated that his government is fully committed to providing 34 per cent reservations for BCs in local bodies.
He directed officials to immediately approach the Supreme Court challenging the verdict and directed officials to consult legal experts and prepare strong arguments before the apex court to protect the 34 per cent quota for BCs.
(This article was originally published in The Federal Andhra Pradesh.)